# NTSB WPR10LA294: Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, N455S, Parowan, UT, June 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 2010, 15:33 local (21:33 UTC) - Place: Parowan, UT - Coordinates: 38.979999, -111.531669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9800&lon=-111.5317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Maneuvering: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Maneuvering: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Salt Lake FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76332/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76332 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA294 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot's failure to see and avoid the other glider climbing in the same thermal. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=05624RU), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=05624RU), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) Two glider pilots had entered the same thermal while participating in a competition task that required them to fly to a point about 90 miles from their point of departure and then to return. Both pilots where flying back to the point of departure after reaching the turnaround point when they entered the thermal. During their first full turn in the thermal, the left wing of one of the gliders and the nose of other glider came in contact. The impact resulted in the separation of the outboard three feet of the wing of one glider and the denting of the lower nose area of the other. The pilots of both gliders were able to return to the point of departure, where they both completed uneventful landings. Neither pilot had seen the other glider as he entered the thermal. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On June 15, 2010, at 1533 mountain daylight time, a Schleicher Alexander GMBD ASH 26E glider, N455S, and a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CT glider, N514TW, were involved in a mid-air collision about 75 miles northeast of Parowan, Utah. Neither pilot was injured. Both pilots were the sole occupants of their respective gliders. The ASH 26E sustained substantial damage, and the Ventus 2CT sustained minor damage. Both pilots were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. Both gliders departed Parowan, Utah (N455S at 1403, and N514TW at 1344), and Parowan was the planned final destination for both pilots. No flight plan had been filed. According to both pilots, they were competing in a glider competition task that required them to depart a point near Parowan, fly to a point about 90 miles northeast of Parowan, and then to return to Parowan for landing. Both pilots where flying back to Parowan after reaching the turnaround point when they entered the same thermal and began to climb. During their first full turn in the thermal, the left wing of the ASH 26E and the nose of the Ventus 2CT came in contact. The impact resulted in the separation of the outboard three feet of the wing of the ASH 26E, and denting of the lower nose area of the Ventus 2CT. The pilots of both gliders were able to return to Parowan, where they both completed uneventful landings. Both pilot's stated that they had not seen the other glider as they entered the thermal, and both pilot's stated that they realized that it was their responsibility to see and avoid any other gliders that were climbing in the same thermal. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N455S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N455S), registered now, S/N 26183, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ALEXANDER GMBH & CO ASH 26 E - Registry model: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-alexander-ash-26-e) (registry code 05624RU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 26183 - Airframe hours: 1209 - Engines: Midwest Engines AE50RAB 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Salkeld Edwin M Jr Trustee - Registered owner: Salkeld Edwin M Jr Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 2010 - Departed: 1L9, Parowan, UT - Destination: 1L9, Parowan, UT ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N514TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N514TW), registered now, S/N 191, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS 2CT - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2ct) (registry code 3800267) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 191 - Airframe hours: 694 - Engines: SOLO 2350 26 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Welles Gillett Tim - Registered owner: Welles Gillett Tim - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 15, 2010 - Departed: 1L9, Parowan, UT - Destination: 1L9, Parowan, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N455S; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 4,208 total, 1,208 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N514TW; age 71; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 7,279 total, 680 in this make and model, 7,250 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100615036242A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100615036242A), Jun 15, 2010: Schleicher ASH 26 E, Parowan, UT, Substantial damage. On Tuesday June 15, 2010 at 1533 mountain daylight time, N455S a Schleicher alexander gmbh & co. model ash 26 e glider piloted by [privacy data omitted] and… - [Incident 20100615036332I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100615036332I), Jun 15, 2010: Schempp-Hir VENTUS 2CT, Parowan, UT, Minor damage. On Tuesday June 15, 2010 at 1533 mountain daylight time, N455S a schleicher alexander gmbh & co. model ash 26 e glider piloted by [privacy data omitted] and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76332. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (N455S) (item 1, .PDF, 671 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(N455S)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (N514TW) (item 2, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331762&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(N514TW)-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. --- 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.