# NTSB NYC08CA236: Glasflugel Standard Libelle, N184W, Front Royal, VA, June 29, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 29, 2008, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Front Royal, VA
- Coordinates: 38.895832, -78.895835
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8958&lon=-78.8958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68357/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA236

## Probable cause

Aircraft control was not maintained during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was turbulence and inadvertent flight into adverse weather.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the glider was towed to an altitude of 4,700 feet above mean sea level and released. Shortly after release, the pilot encountered severe turbulence that caused the glider to become inverted. During the turbulence encounter, the pilot's head impacted the canopy several times, and shattered the canopy. While the glider was inverted the pilot heard "cracking in the wings." After recovering from the turbulence upset, the pilot attempted to land in a field. While on the final leg of the approach, the glider impacted some trees, and a hard landing resulted. The tree strikes and hard landing caused substantial damage to the wing and fuselage.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the glider was towed to an altitude of 4,700 feet above mean sea level and released. Shortly after release, the pilot encountered severe turbulence that caused the glider to become inverted. During the turbulence encounter, the pilot's head impacted the canopy several times, and shattered the canopy. While the glider was inverted the pilot heard "cracking in the wings." After recovering from the turbulence upset, the pilot attempted to land in a field. While on the final leg of the approach, the glider impacted some trees, and a hard landing resulted. The tree strikes and hard landing caused substantial damage to the wing and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N184W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N184W-2009-06-12), registration cancelled 2009-06-12, S/N 131, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Glasflugel Standard Libelle
- Registry model: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-standard-libelle) (registry code 3800341) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 131
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FRR, Front Royal, VA
- Destination: FRR
- Airport: FRR, Front Royal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 700 total, 390 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: OKV, 14 nm away

## 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 20080629843759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080629843759A), Jun 29, 2008: Glasfl LIBELLE, Front Royal, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) The [privacy data omitted]pilot stated after the glider was released from the tow aircraft he encountered severe turbulence. He slammed against the…

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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