# NTSB LAX01LA220: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3/24.5, N4427M, Montague, CA, June 24, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2001, 17:17 local (Jun 24, 2001, 00:17 UTC) - Place: Montague, CA - Coordinates: 41.781387, -122.468055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7814&lon=-122.4681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53352/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA220 ## Probable cause A loss of control during landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot was competing in an open class national soaring contest, and strong surface wind conditions were present. Locally, the wind speed was at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots. At the conclusion of his flight, the pilot turned onto the final approach leg with extra airspeed. When the glider had descended between 5 and 10 feet above the ground, a wind gust lifted its right wing upward, and the left wing contacted the ground. The pilot lost control, and the glider cartwheeled and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2001, about 1717 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3/24.5, N4427M, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced an in-flight loss of control during landing flare at the Siskiyou County Airport, Montague, California. The experimental glider came to rest in an inverted attitude on the airport, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot was seriously injured. The accident occurred during a soaring competition. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91 and originated from Montague about 1250. During the accident flight the pilot was competing in an open class national soaring contest. Another participant in the soaring contest reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that because of the strong surface wind condition, some of the glider pilots were landing into the wind using the east-west oriented closed taxiway rather than runway 17/35. A witness observed the accident glider approach the airport and attempt to land on the east-west taxiway while heading into the prevailing wind that was from about 270 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots. When the glider was about 20 feet above ground level, a wing suddenly dropped and contacted the ground. The glider spun around in a manner resembling a ground-loop. It then rolled upside down. According to the pilot, during his flight he had monitored the airport's weather condition, and he was aware of the wind speed and direction. The pilot reported that he turned onto the final approach leg with extra speed. When he had descended between 5 and 10 feet above the ground, a wind gust lifted the glider's right wing upward. It was then that the left wing contacted the ground, he lost control, cartwheeled, and nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4427M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4427M-2001-11-08), registration cancelled 2001-11-08, S/N 06 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3/24.5 - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-nimbus-3-24-5) (registry code 3801960) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 6 - Airframe hours: 778 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul F. DeMeester - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 2000, 25 hours before - Departed: SIY, MONTAGUE, CA - Destination: SIY, Montague, CA - Airport: SIY, Siskiyou County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; private; last flight review March 11, 2001; seat: single; flight hours: 521 total, 133 in this make and model, 438 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SIY ## 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 20010623017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010623017219A), Jun 23, 2001: Montague, CA, No damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land with some high winds. Winds at airport were gusting at 26 KTS. At approximately 10 feet AGL, a wind gust lifted the right… ## Other investigations on N4427M (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX97LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA215), Jun 17, 1997: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3/24.5 (N4427M), Macdoel, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to see and avoid a set of power lines while making an off-airport landing due to a lack of lift. 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.