# NTSB WPR11CA486: Schleicher ASW-27, N797V, Brigham City, UT, July 19, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2011, 17:21 local (23:21 UTC)
- Place: Brigham City, UT
- Coordinates: 41.516183, -112.03276
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5162&lon=-112.0328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Salt Lake FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA486
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82596/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82596
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA486

## Probable cause

The glider pilot did not take timely action to locate a safe outlanding area after entering an area where atmospheric lift was not sufficient to maintain soaring flight.

## Findings

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

- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (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)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-27, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=3801501), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute: 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

While participating in a soaring contest, the glider pilot entered an area where atmospheric lift was not sufficient. Instead of reversing his course toward better outlanding fields, he continued with the contest course and task. He ultimately ended up in a location where he was forced to attempt an off-airport landing on unsuitable terrain. Immediately upon touchdown, the glider encountered several small boulders that were hidden in the grass, and the left wing tip became snagged in some tall grass, resulting in a loss of directional control. During the resulting ground loop, both wings sustained substantial damage and the empennage tail boom separated from the main part of the fuselage.

## Factual narrative

While participating in a soaring contest, the glider pilot entered an area where atmospheric lift was not sufficient. Instead of jettisoning the glider's water ballast to reduce its sink rate and reversing his course toward better outlanding fields, he continued on with the contest course and task. He therefore ultimately ended up in a location where he was forced to attempt an off-airport landing on unsuitable terrain. Immediately upon touchdown, the glider encountered several small boulders that were hidden in the grass, and the left wing tip became snagged in some tall grass, resulting in a loss of directional control. During the resulting ground loop, both wings sustained substantial damage and the empennage tail boom separated from the main part of the fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N797V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N797V), registered now, S/N 27145, built 2000 (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: 27145
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cumiford James H Jr
- Registered owner: Cumiford James H Jr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KLGU, Logan, UT
- Destination: KLGU, Logan, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; seat: single; flight hours: 3,018 total, 892 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82596. 709 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 709 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361143&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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