# NTSB WPR13LA007: Schleicher ASH25M, N513WK, Kamuela, HI, October 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 2012, 10:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Kamuela, HI - Coordinates: 20.000833, -155.667495 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.0008&lon=-155.6675&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider after it encountered atmospheric conditions while maneuvering where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a stall and impact with terrain during the subsequent approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASH25M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=38015EZ), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/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 ASH25M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=38015EZ), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher ASH25M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=38015EZ), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Schleicher ASH25M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=38015EZ), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schleicher ASH25M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=38015EZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on the day of the accident the weather was marginal, with low clouds and shifting wind. He took off in the motorized glider and then stowed the engine. About 1 mile northwest of the airport, the pilot realized that the wind was not conducive to convective activity, and the glider started to descend. The pilot turned back toward the airport and extended the engine/propeller to restart the engine; however, the engine would not start. The pilot entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and lowered the landing gear. As the pilot was turning from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern, the left wing of the glider stalled; the glider subsequently impacted the ground and cart-wheeled before coming to a rest in a field. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he believed the accident occurred because "everything happened so fast,” and he was unable to use a checklist. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2012, about 1030 Hawaiian standard time, a Schleicher ASH-25M glider, N513WK, landed approximately 1 mile short of the runway at the Waimea-Kohala airport (PHMU), Kamuela, Hawaii. The private pilot sustained serious injuries; the glider sustained substantial damage to both wings. The glider was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed PHMU at approximately 1000. The pilot reported that on the day of the accident the weather was marginal with low clouds. The wind was shifting between a trade wind and a westerly wind. He took off from runway 22, and shortly thereafter stowed the engine. About 1 mile northwest of the airport about 500 feet above the ground, the wind had not changed back to a trade wind and the glider was not getting adequate lift. The pilot turned back towards the airport, and raised the engine pylon to restart the engine, however, the engine would not start. He entered the traffic pattern, and while on the downwind leg, he noted that the glider would not make it to the runway. Given a lack of adequate emergency landing sites around the airport, he elected to still attempt to land on the runway. The pilot lowered the landing gear and turned to base when he felt the left wing stall. The wing subsequently contacted the ground damaging an approximate 4 foot section of the left wing’s outboard leading edge. The glider cartwheeled before coming to a rest in a field. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine as it was running about 5-10 minutes prior to the accident. He mentioned that he believes it was an operational error because everything was happening so fast he was unable to use a checklist. According to the “ASH 25 Mi flight manual”, it states that it is possible to land the glider with the engine/propeller extended; but to expect a higher than normal sink rate. The manual also states that in the event of an engine failure, if a crash landing is imminent that it is best to retract the powerplant to at least the halfway point to increase the glide distance, which will potentially allow for a better emergency landing site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N513WK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N513WK-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 25263, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASH25M - Registry model: [Schleicher ASH25M](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-ash25m) (registry code 38015EZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mid-West AE50R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mid-west-ae50r) (registry code 51500, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 25263 - Engines: MID-WEST AE50R 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Woods Woodson K - Registered owner: Woods Woodson K - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2012, 2 hours before - Departed: PHMU, Kamuela, HI - Destination: PHMU, Kamuela, HI - Airport: PHMU, Waimea-Kohala Airport, runway 22, 5,197 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: serious; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 120 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PHKO, 26 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 20121007021869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121007021869A), Oct 7, 2012: Schleicher ASH25M, Kamuela, HI, Substantial damage. Pilot landed short of the runway. The landing gear was in the retracted position during landing. Propeller was in extended position it was not in stowed… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85298. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 614 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Flight Manual Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Manual%20Excerpts-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.