- Date
- May 11, 2008, 15:59 local (22:59 UTC)
- Place
- Peoria, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8829AA. Schleicher ASW 27-18
- Defining event
- Landing: Landing area undershoot
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080511841909A
- Case key
- 68027
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 pilot's misjudged distance and altitude while on final approach to land. A factor contributing to the accident was a downdraft.
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
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the glider pilot arrived at his intended destination and entered a normal left-hand traffic pattern to runway 23R. The pilot reported that he observed the wind conditions on the downwind and base legs, and he maintained a normal traffic pattern. The wind was from 190 degrees at 10 knots. The initial approach to the runway was normal. However, the pilot said that on short final approach he suddenly encountered a "very heavy downward sink, accompanied by a sharp drop in IAS [indicated air speed]." The pilot responded by retracting the wing spoilers and adjusting the glider's pitch to maintain the requisite approach speed. The downdraft continued, and despite the performance capabilities of his glider the pilot was unable to glide to the runway. The pilot turned to avoid a set of power lines, and a wing contacted the ground. The glider touched down hard on the flat open terrain several hundred yards short of the threshold.
Factual narrative
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the glider pilot arrived at his intended destination and entered a normal left-hand traffic pattern to runway 23R. The pilot reported that he observed the wind conditions on the downwind and base legs, and he maintained a normal traffic pattern. The wind was from 190 degrees at 10 knots. The initial approach to the runway was normal. However, the pilot said that on short final approach he suddenly encountered a "very heavy downward sink, accompanied by a sharp drop in IAS [indicated air speed]." The pilot responded by retracting the wing spoilers and adjusting the glider's pitch to maintain the requisite approach speed. The downdraft continued, and despite the performance capabilities of his glider the pilot was unable to glide to the runway. The pilot turned to avoid a set of power lines, and a wing contacted the ground. The glider touched down hard on the flat open terrain several hundred yards short of the threshold. As the glider came to a stop, the fuselage severed in front of the vertical fin, the horizontal stabilizer broke in half, and the fuselage was deformed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8829A
- Reported as
- A. Schleicher ASW 27-18
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 29034
- Engine
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ted C. Wagner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- A20 · Bullhead City, AZ
- Destination
- P48 · Peoria, AZ
- Airport
- P48 · Pleasant Valley, runway 23R, 4,200 × 100 ft, dirt
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
- 47
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 780 total · 32 in this make and model · 32 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8829A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.