# NTSB WPR11CA342: Schleicher ASW-27, N78AB, Preston, ID, July 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2011, 18:04 local (Jul 21, 2011, 00:04 UTC) - Place: Preston, ID - Coordinates: 43.508056, -112.068885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5081&lon=-112.0689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81182 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81182/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81182 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA342 ## Probable cause The glider's impact with crops during the off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot reported that he was unable to find thermals that would provide suitable lift for continued flight. Subsequently, a field was selected that the pilot assessed was adequate for a successful landing. After overflying the field at 1,000 feet above ground level the pilot began his approach. The approach and touchdown were uneventful. During the landing roll, as the pilot deployed the speedbrakes and applied braking, the glider pitched forward and the left and right wings contacted crops that were located on either side of the glider's landing roll. The left wing engaged the crops more fully than the right wing and the glider yawed to the left before coming to rest. As a result, the empennage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe that would have precluded normal flight. ## Factual narrative The glider pilot reported that he was unable to find thermals that would provide suitable lift for continued flight. Subsequently, a field was selected that the pilot assessed was adequate for a successful landing. After overflying the field at 1000 feet AGL the pilot began his approach. The approach and touchdown were uneventful. During the landing roll, as the pilot deployed the speedbrakes and applied braking to the wheel the glider pitched forward and the left and right wings contacted crops that were located on either side of the glider's landing roll. The left wing engaged the crops more fully than the right wing and the glider yawed to the left before coming to rest. As a result of the landing roll, the empennage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78AB), registered now, S/N 27207, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-27 - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-27](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-27) (registry code 3801501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 27207 - Airframe hours: 532 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Blackburn L Anderson - Registered owner: Blackburn L Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2011 - Departed: LGU, Logan, UT - Destination: N/A, Preston, ID - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; last flight review May 21, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 1,153 total, 531 in this make and model, 1,136 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 186° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KLGU, 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 20110720015369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110720015369A), Jul 20, 2011: Schleicher ASW-27, Preston, ID, Substantial damage. The aircraft was unable to land back at the airport. The aircraft came to rest in a field. The left and right wings contacted crops that were located on either… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81182. 612 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 612 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351590&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. --- 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.