- Date
- February 11, 1995, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Huachuca, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N333BHBurkhart Grob Twin Astir
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950211001599A
- Case key
- 29031
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
Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in his failure to remain clear of tree(s) during an off-airport landing. Factors related to the accident were: lack of thermal lift, and high obstructions in the off-airport landing area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After the tow release, the glider pilot had difficulty locating thermals for lift. He saw a field and proceeded to maneuver for an off-airport landing. During the approach phase, he saw power lines perpendicular to the intended landing direction, so he maneuvered to land parallel to the power lines. As he continued the approach, which was over the lee side of some hills, the glider encountered an increase in sink rate and a decrease in airspeed. The pilot attempted to gain energy and to clear obstacles; however, the left wingtip collided with a tree and the glider crash landed.
Factual narrative
On February 11, 1995, at 1500 hours mountain standard time, a Grob Twin Astir glider, N333BH, operated by the Tucson Soaring Club, Inc., of Tucson, Arizona, collided with a tree with its left wing during a forced landing near Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the local pleasure flight.
According to the pilot's report, after the tow release at 2,000 feet above ground level, he had difficulty locating thermals for lift. Along the route, the pilot encountered a heavy sink rate and no lift. He saw a field and proceeded to set up for a forced landing. During the approach phase, the pilot noticed some power lines perpendicular to the intended landing direction. He decided to put the glider on a base leg for a landing to the northeast, parallel to the power lines. As the pilot began the final approach, there was a sudden, dramatic increase in the sink rate, coupled with a decrease in the airspeed. In an attempt to gain energy to clear the rapidly approaching obstacles, the pilot put the nose down and tried to level out. Moments later, the left wing tip struck the top of a tree.
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the crash.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N333BH
- Reported as
- Burkhart Grob Twin Astir
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3218
- Airframe hours
- 1,472
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Tucson Soaring Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 25, 1994 · 325 hours before
- Departed
- FHU · AZ
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
- 27
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 204 total · 41 in this make and model · 114 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.