# NTSB MIA07CA151: Schleicher ASW-24E, N24WR, Morganton, NC, September 12, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 12, 2007, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Morganton, NC
- Coordinates: 35.822776, -81.618888
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8228&lon=-81.6189&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66677
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66677/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA151

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed while turning base to final resulting in the left wing contacting the ground.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot had not flown the glider in 2 years and after being towed aloft, elected to return because he was not flying well.  The flight entered the traffic pattern too low and at too low an airspeed.  While turning base to final, the glider stalled and the left wing contacted the ground.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that after being towed aloft, light winds and light lift existed.  He elected to return because he was not flying well, and while turning base to final, the left wing contacted the ground.  He further reported that the traffic pattern was entered too low, and the airspeed was not maintained.  Additionally, he had not flown the glider in the previous 2 years, and his "Lack of recent flying time is the major factor resulting in poor decisions on landing resulting in major damage to the glider."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24WR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24WR), registered now, S/N 24861 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW-24E
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-24E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-24e) (registry code 3801515) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 24861
- Engines: Rotax 275 26 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alexander C. McKinley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KMRN, Morganton, NC
- Destination: KMRN, Morganton, NC
- Airport: KMRN, Foothills Regional Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 2,499 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20070912831379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070912831379A), Sep 12, 2007: Schler ASW24E, Morganton, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) N24WR, a schleicher ASW-24E glider, while turning base to final, had the wing tip contact the ground causing the glider to contact the ground. This was…

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.

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