# NTSB LAX07CA104: Schleicher ASW-27B, N273W, Williams, CA, March 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2007, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Williams, CA - Coordinates: 39.071109, -122.027221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0711&lon=-122.0272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65422/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude and delay in retracting the spoilers that led to an undershoot, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - spoiler retraction - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The glider touched down short of the runway and ground looped during landing. The pilot returned to the airport after he couldn't find any lift. He encountered some sink on his base and final legs. He felt that he didn't retract his spoilers soon enough to prevent his landing just short of the paved runway. The glider ground looped, which broke off the tail boom. The pilot made a recommendation regarding prevention of the accident. He noted that this was an uneventful day, which could lull one into not paying full attention to all phases of flight. The runway was more than long enough to allow him to land 1/4 of the way down the runway, which would have provided a much larger safety margin for his landing. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 2007, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Schleicher ASW-27B, N273W, ground looped during landing at Williams, California. The pilot/owner was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured; the glider sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Williams about 1415. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated in a written report that he returned to the airport after he couldn't find any lift. He encountered some sink on his base and final legs. He felt that he didn't retract his spoilers soon enough to prevent his landing just short of the paved runway. The glider ground looped, which broke off the tail boom. The pilot made a recommendation regarding prevention of the accident. He noted that this was an uneventful day, which could fool one into not paying full attention to all phases of flight. The runway was more than long enough to allow him to land 1/4 of the way down the runway, which would have provided a much larger safety margin for his landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N273W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N273W), registered now, S/N 27192, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW-27B - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-27B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-27b) (registry code 056101F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 27192 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred J. Dwyer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: Williams, CA - Destination: Williams, CA - Airport: Q12, Williams Glider Port, runway 35, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 640 total, 200 in this make and model, 540 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: SMF, 37 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 20070311005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070311005919A), Mar 11, 2007: Schler ASW27B, Williams, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was on his second glider flight of the day and was returning to the airport. He deployed his spoilers then encountered some sink on his base leg… 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.