# NTSB MIA98LA128: Schleicher ASW-19B, N297B, Hamptonville, NC, April 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1998, 16:08 local (20:08 UTC) - Place: Hamptonville, NC - Coordinates: 36.109603, -80.809715 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1096&lon=-80.8097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VSO) while maneuvering at a low altitude. ## Analysis A witness observed the glider at about 200 feet, and the airspeed was described as slow. The glider was observed to make several 360-degree turns before the nose of the glider was observed to pitch straight down, and the glider disappeared from view below the tree line. ## Factual narrative On April 9, 1998, about 1608 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher ASW-19B, N297B, registered to Kenlett Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of Hamptonville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The glider sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Swan Creek Airport, Jonesville, North Carolina, about 1 hour 52 minutes before the accident. A witness stated he was standing in his front yard when he heard a whistling noise. He looked up and observed a glider at a low altitude, estimated at about 200 feet. The airspeed was described as extremely slow, and the glider was in a right descending turn. The glider made about three to four right 360-degree turns before the nose of the glider was observed to pitch straight down, and the glider disappeared from view below the tree line. He immediately went inside the house and called 911, informing the operator that a glider had crashed. The wreckage of N297B was located about 5 to 6 miles southeast of Swan Creek Airport, Jonesville, North Carolina, in the vicinity of Interstate 77, between highway 421 and highway 21. Examination of the crashsite revealed the glider collided with the ground in about a 30 degree nose down attitude in a northerly direction. The landing gear and bottom of the fuselage were severely damaged, and the tail section was separated forward of the vertical stabilizer. The glider traveled about 80 feet before coming to rest in a gully. Examination of the airframe and flight control system revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Continuity of the flight controls was confirmed for pitch, roll, and yaw. Postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by Dr. Patrick L. Lantz, Director of Autopsy Services, Wake Forrest University, Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on April 11, 1998. The cause of death was multiple injuries. Postmortem toxicology of specimens from the pilot was performed by the Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. These studies were negative for ethanol, acidic, and neutral drugs. Lidocane, 0.1 (ug/ml, ug/g), was detected in the blood. Morphine, 0.054 (ug/ml, ug/g), was detected in the blood, and 0.088 (ug/ml, ug/g) was detected in liver fluid. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Aircraft - Registration: [N297B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N297B-2000-08-15), registration cancelled 2000-08-15, S/N 19376 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW-19B - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-19B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-19b) (registry code 3801505) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 19376 - Airframe hours: 964 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenlett Inc. - Registered owner: Kenlett Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 1997, 14 hours before - Departed: 78A, JONESVILLE, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,650 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,443 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 15 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: INT ## 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 19980409024379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980409024379A), Apr 9, 1998: Schler ASW19B, Jonesville, NC, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Indicates glider ran out of thermals and stalled trying to locate a landing area. (-23) on April 9, 1998, at about 1608 eastern daylight time, a schleicher… 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.