# NTSB WPR22LA150: Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, N212NM, Valyermo, CA, April 8, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2022, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Valyermo, CA · High desert mountainous terrain
- Coordinates: 34.351121, -117.80157 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3511&lon=-117.8016&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104927
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104927/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104927
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA150

## Probable cause

The gliders encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and subsequent impact with mountainous terrain.

## 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: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801539), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the glider reported that, while in thermal flight, he made a turn to the south to follow a ridgeline. Before he reached the top of the mountain, the glider experienced a loss of lift. To compensate, he maneuvered the glider away from terrain and encountered additional sink. While maneuvering the glider toward lower terrain, the right-wing tip struck a tree. The glider struck additional trees before it impacted terrain and came to rest between two trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N212NM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212NM-2023-01-21), registration cancelled 2023-01-21, S/N 21947, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER GMBH & CO ASK 21 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Alexander Schleicher ASK 21](https://openairdocs.org/model/alexander-schleicher-ask-21) (registry code 3801539) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 21947
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 432.67
- Engines: NA none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Southern California Soaring Academy, Inc.
- Registered owner: Southern California Soaring Academy, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 25, 2022
- Departed: 46CN, Llano, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review July 19, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 509 total, 177 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KPMD, 22 nm away
- METAR: KPMD 082253Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM CLR 31/M11 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP137 T03111106 $

## 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 20220408005169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220408005169A), Apr 8, 2022: Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co ASK 21, Llano, CA, Substantial damage. While flying south along an ascending ridgeline at 8000 MSL at a speed of 55 knots, the aircraft lost lift. The aircraft had sink of 6 knots. The pilot turned…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104927. 7.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13691292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - operator (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13691890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N212NM-Glider%206120%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13706200&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20(Operator)-Rel.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.