# NTSB MIA03CA074: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, N828JN, Clermont, FL, March 10, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 10, 2003, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Clermont, FL
- Coordinates: 28.47861, -81.714447
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4786&lon=-81.7144&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03CA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56616/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA074

## Probable cause

An in-flight encounter with wind gusts while making an approach to land in a field resulting in the aircraft landing early and colliding with a berm.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was downwind of the airport, and realized he could not make it back so he elected to make an off-field landing.  After turning onto final approach he said "the glider was hit by a gust of wind and forced into the ground."  The glider hit a mound of dirt on the edge of ground water causing the glider to ground-loop.

## Factual narrative

On March 10, 2003, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Schempp-Hirth Discus-2B glider, N828JN, registered and operated by an individual, crashed while on approach to landing at the Seminole Lakes gliderport, Clermont, Florida.  No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident.  The glider was substantially damaged.  The glider pilot reported no injuries.  The flight had departed from the same gliderport at approximately 1245.

The pilot stated he departed Seminole Lake gliderport with the intention to complete a contest and return to the gliderport.  The contest was cancelled due to impending bad weather consisting of gusting winds, wind shear, and possible thunderstorms.  He was downwind of the airport, and realized he could not make it back so he elected to make an off-field landing.  After turning onto final approach he said "the glider was hit by a gust of wind and forced into the ground."  The glider hit a mound of dirt on the edge of ground water causing the glider to ground-loop.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N828JN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N828JN), registered now, S/N 120, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-2b) (registry code 3801904) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 120
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Martin Nasadowski
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 6LFO, Clermont, FL
- Destination: 6LFO, Clermont, FL
- Airport: 6FL0, Seminole Lake, runway 36

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; flight hours: 685 total, 135 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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.