- Date
- November 6, 2019, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Waynesville, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N16TDSchleicher ASW15
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20191106023389A
- Case key
- 100560
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The glider pilot's improper approach during landing, which resulted in collision with trees.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was unable to find thermals, so he decided to return to the glider port. During the approach, the glider was lower than he initially planned, so he decided to cut the approach short by crossing directly to the runway and then turn for landing. During the turn, the glider struck trees and impacted terrain. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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 he was unable to find thermals, so he decided to return to the glider port. During the approach, the glider was lower than he initially planned and decided to cut the approach short by crossing directly to the runway, then turn for landing. During the turn, the glider struck trees and impacted terrain. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on an airport, about 9 nm away, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 190° at 8 knots. The pilot reported the wind was 130°, light and variable. The pilot attempted to land runway 09.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16TD
- Reported as
- Schleicher ASW15 (B)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 15217
- Built
- 1972
- Airframe hours
- 960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 2019
- Departed
- 2OH9 · Waynesville, OH
- Destination
- 2OH9 · Waynesville, OH
- Airport
- 2OH9 · Caesar Creek Soaring Club, runway 09, 2,800 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Last flight review
- October 8, 2019
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 75 total · 10 in this make and model · 36 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- KMGY, 9 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.