# NTSB LAX03LA114: Schleicher ASW-20, N31AP, San Diego, CA, March 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 16, 2003, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.88972, -117.246948 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8897&lon=-117.2469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56659 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56659/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA114 ## Probable cause the pilot's use of an inadequate climb attitude during takeoff resulting in the proper climb rate not being established. ## 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, takeoff - aborted - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The right wing tip contacted the ground during an aborted takeoff. Gliders are launched from this airport with the assistance of a winch launch system. The winch launch system requires the pilot of the glider to obtain a steep climb attitude to prevent slack in the tow cable, and to establish an adequate airspeed and altitude prior to releasing from the cable. Witnesses who are glider pilots said the launch operation started normally and the glider rolled forward with good apparent speed. At the normal point of rotation, the typical rapid transition to a high angle of attack did not occur. The glider climbed to 20 to 30 feet above ground level, then leveled off. The glider appeared to overshoot the cable and the tow cable became slack. The glider appeared to be flying near stall speed when the pilot attempted to land on the emergency-intersecting runway. The right wing drug on the ground and the glider ground looped prior to stopping. The pilot stated that during launch, the glider did not gain enough altitude or airspeed to continue the flight. The pilot elected to abort the take off and tried to turn to land on a short intersecting runway. During the landing sequence the right wing tip contacted the ground. The glider ground looped, and came to rest on the north side of runway 27. The pilot said there were no mechanical discrepancies with the glider. ## Factual narrative On March 16, 2003, about 1000 Pacific standard time, a Schleicher ASW-20 glider, N31AP, collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff at Torrey Pines Gliderport (CA84), San Diego, California. The pilot-owner was operating the glider on a personal local flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the glider sustained substantial damage. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 32 degrees 53 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 14 minutes west longitude. The pilot reported that gliders at CA84 are launched with the assistance of a winch launch system. The winch launch system requires the pilot of the glider to obtain a steep climb attitude to prevent slack in the tow cable, and to establish an adequate airspeed and altitude prior to releasing from the cable. A commercial glider pilot and a private airplane pilot who witnessed the accident and photographed the takeoff and accident sequences stated: "The launch operation started normally and the glider rolled forward with good apparent speed. At the normal point of rotation, the typical rapid transition to a high angle of attack did not occur. The glider climbed to 20 to 30 feet above ground level, then leveled off. The glider appeared to overshoot the cable and the tow cable became slack. The glider appeared to be flying near stall speed when the pilot attempted to land on the emergency-intersecting runway. The right wing drug on the ground and the glider ground looped prior to stopping." The pilot stated that during his winch-assisted launch, the glider did not gain enough altitude or airspeed to continue the flight. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and tried to turn to land on a short intersecting runway. During the landing sequence the right wing tip contacted the ground. The glider ground looped, and came to rest on the north side of runway 27. The tail boom broke 3 feet forward of the vertical stabilizer, the main landing gear was bent, the belly pan forward of the main gear was cracked, and the outboard 1/3 of the right wing was scuffed. The pilot-owner reported there were no unresolved maintenance discrepancies against the glider prior to accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31AP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31AP-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 20369, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW-20 - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (registry code 3801506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 20369 - Airframe hours: 984.1 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark E. Navarre - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2002, 147 hours before - Departed: CA84, San Diego, CA - Airport: CA84, Torrey Pines Gliderport, runway 27, 1,500 × 30 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review December 6, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 777 total, 419 in this make and model, 696 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KMYF, 7 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 20030316004739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030316004739A), Mar 16, 2003: Schler ASW20, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot experienced an aborted takeoff during a "winch" launch. Pilot stated that he winch was not operating properly which forced him to make an early… ## Other investigations on N31AP (2) 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 LAX05LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA224), Jul 3, 2005: Schleicher ASW-20 (N31AP), Big Pine, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude and his decision to turn toward higher terrain. - [NTSB LAX91LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA231), Apr 7, 1991: Schleicher ASW-20 (N31AP), Julian, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HIS EXPERIMENTAL GLIDER DURING TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH GUSTY WINDS. 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.