# NTSB LAX93LA324: Schweizer 1-35C, N2562H, Wickenburg, AZ, August 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1993, 15:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Wickenburg, AZ - Coordinates: 33.900299, -112.899955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9003&lon=-112.9000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA324 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while maneuvering to land, resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis Several gliders were participating in an 80 mile round trip endurance competition and many of the pilots reported turning back early and landing at the gliderport, while others stated that they were forced to make off airport landings in the desert due to unfavorable conditions. The pilot noted that a good altitude margin was maintained during the flight outbound toward the goal until reaching an area about 12 miles west of Wickenburg. The pilot began to experience heavy sink and he decided to turn around and head for the Wickenburg airport. The pilot stated that his altitude continued to deteriorate to the point where the airport at Wickenburg was no longer reachable and an off airport landing in the desert was the only option. The pilot said he found a suitable landing area but had to maneuver on final approach to avoid a set of power lines. The pilot said that during the maneuver the glider stalled, entered a spin to the right and impacted nose first. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1993, at 1535 hours mountain standard time, a Schweizer 1-35C glider, N2562H, collided with the ground during an off airport forced landing in the desert near Wickenburg, Arizona. The glider, owned and operated by the pilot, was participating in an 80 mile round trip endurance competition at the time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The glider was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at the Turf Soaring Gliderport in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on the day of the mishap at 1300 hours. According to an FAA inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office, several gliders were participating in the competition and the pilots reported that soaring conditions were not very favorable, with little lift available. Many of the pilots reported turning back early and landing at the gliderport, while others stated that they were forced to make off airport landings in the desert. In his statement, the pilot noted that a good altitude margin was maintained during the flight outbound toward the goal until reaching an area about 12 miles west of Wickenburg. The pilot reported that he began to experience heavy sink and he decided to turn around and head for the Wickenburg airport. The pilot stated that his altitude continued to deteriorate to the point where the airport at Wickenburg was no longer reachable and an off airport landing in the desert was the only option. The pilot said he found a suitable landing area but had to maneuver on final approach to avoid a set of power lines. The pilot said that during the maneuver the glider stalled, entered a spin to the right and impacted nose first. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2562H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2562H-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 62, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 1-35C - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-35C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-35c) (registry code 8050151) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 62 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William M. Hardesty - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AZ05, PARADISE VALLEY, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,372 total, 115 in this make and model, 1,311 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F ## 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 19930815029459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930815029459A), Aug 15, 1993: Scwzer SGS135C, Wickenburg, AZ, Destroyed. Unable to reach airport. Stalled and spun in trying to avoid powerlines during off airport landing. 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.