# NTSB WPR09CA479: Schleicher ASK-21, N63JJ, Jean, NV, June 30, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 30, 2009, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Jean, NV
- Coordinates: 35.768333, -115.329719 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7683&lon=-115.3297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA479
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74968/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74968
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA479

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider during the initial climb due to an inadvertent encounter with wind.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: convective turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 145 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASK-21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=38015GY), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: 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 reported that after climbing to about 50 feet above ground level and reaching an airspeed of about 60 knots "...the glider would not continue to climb and immediately began to descend." The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and released the tow rope to land straight ahead, but immediately upon releasing [the tow rope] the left wing raised and the aircraft drifted right between the two runways. The pilot further stated, "In spite of a full left control stick input the glider continued to roll steeply right, and at the same time [I] had the sensation of being blown sideways and that the tail was being lifted up in an uncontrollable nose-down attitude." The pilot reported that the aircraft struck the ground on the right wing tip first, then the front nosewheel, then the tailwheel. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the undercarriage and the empennage. The pilot stated that he thought he had encountered a dust devil that was not in view and to the rear of the glider during takeoff. A witness reported that the glider seemed to be "...pushed down, though making forward progress until it turned steeply right." The pilot reported no anomalies with the glider.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after climbing to about 50 feet above ground level and reaching an airspeed of about 60 knots "...the glider would not continue to climb and immediately began to descend." The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and released the tow rope to land straight ahead, but immediately upon releasing [the tow rope] the left wing raised and the aircraft drifted right between the two runways. The pilot further stated, "In spite of a full left control stick input the glider continued to roll steeply right, and at the same time [I] had the sensation of being blown sideways and that the tail was being lifted up in an uncontrollable nose-down attitude." The pilot reported that the aircraft struck the ground on the right wing tip first, then the front nose wheel, then the tail wheel. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the undercarriage and the empennage. The pilot stated that he thought he had encountered a dust devil that was not in view and to the rear of the glider during takeoff. A witness reported that the glider seemed to be "...pushed down, though making forward progress until it turned steeply right." The pilot reported no anomalies with the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63JJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63JJ-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 21278, built 1986 (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: 21248
- Airframe hours: 4366
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Glider tow, Part 91
- Operator: John M Henderson
- Registered owner: Aerobatic Force LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2009
- Departed: 0L7, Jean, NV
- Destination: 0L7, Jean, NV
- Airport: 0L7, Jean Airport, runway 20R, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial; last flight review October 26, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 4,606 total, 182 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Observed at: LAS, 23 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 20090630020239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090630020239A), Jun 30, 2009: Schler ASK21, Jean, NV, Substantial damage. During the launch phase upon reaching 60 knots airspeed, the pilot rotated and climbed to approximately 50 feet AGL, with the same airspeed the glider would…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74968. 499 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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