# NTSB MIA08CA136: Schleicher ASK-21, N363KS, Elmira, NY, July 7, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 7, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Elmira, NY
- Coordinates: 42.120834, -76.900833
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1208&lon=-76.9008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68394
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68394/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA136

## Probable cause

The glider pilot's misjudged distance/altitude while soaring.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that after his Schleicher ASK-21 glider was towed aloft to 2,000 feet and released, he flew too far from the airport traffic pattern. He said that during the return to the airport, he encountered a "sink and waterfall" effect, which caused a low approach, resulting in his inability to make it to the airport. Subsequently, there was a collision with terrain 100 feet short of the runway. The pilot added that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the glider.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that after his Schleicher ASK-21 glider was towed aloft to 2,000 feet and released, he flew too far from the airport traffic pattern. He said that during the return to the airport, he encountered a "sink and waterfall" effect, which caused a low approach, resulting in his inability to make it to the airport. Subsequently, there was a collision with terrain 100 feet short of the runway. The pilot added that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N363KS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N363KS), registered now, S/N 21228, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schleicher ASK-21
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASK-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-ask-21) (registry code 38015GY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 21228
- Airframe hours: 5011
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harris Hill Soaring Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2007, 76 hours before
- Departed: 4NY8, ELMIRA, NY
- Destination: 4NY8, ELMIRA, NY
- Airport: 4NY8, Harris Hill, runway 16, 1,115 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; seat: front; flight hours: 491 total, 481 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: ELM, 2 nm away

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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