# NTSB GAA19CA483: Schleicher ASW 24, N37T, Paulden, AZ, August 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2019, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Paulden, AZ - Coordinates: 34.931667, -112.517501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9317&lon=-112.5175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100001 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA483 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100001/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100001 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA483 ## Probable cause The pilot's distraction due to the environment, his failure to lower the landing gear, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control while landing the glider, which resulted in impact with a utility box. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801514), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, due to the unimproved airport environment blending in with the surrounding environment, he was unable to identify the runway and decided to land the glider on a dirt road. While concentrating on landing, he failed to extend the landing gear. On short final, he noticed that the landing gear was not extended, and while changing hands to extend the landing gear, the glider drifted right of the dirt road. Upon landing on the dirt road, the glider veered right and impacted a utility box. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and canopy. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The glider pilot reported that, due to the unimproved airport blending in with the surrounding environment, he was unable to identify the runway and decided to land on a dirt road. While concentrating on landing, he failed to extend the landing gear. On short finial, he noticed that the landing gear was not extended and while changing hands to extend the landing gear, the glider drifted right of the dirt road. Upon landing on the dirt road, the glider veered right and impacted a utility box. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and canopy. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37T-2022-09-22), registration cancelled 2022-09-22, S/N 24096, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW 24 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-24) (registry code 3801514) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 24096 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 1314 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2019 - Departed: AZ86, Coyote Springs, AZ - Destination: AZ86, Coyote Springs, AZ - Airport: AZ57, Pilots Rest - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 1,118 total, 3 in this make and model, 1,034 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KPRC, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190804022979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190804022979A), Aug 4, 2019: Schleicher ASW-24, Paulden, AZ, Substantial damage. While soaring near seligman, AZ, PIC experienced sink at approximately 13,000'. PIC then attempted to return to AZ86. While enroute to AZ86 and after speaking… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100001. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Damage Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Photo-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.