# NTSB WPR22LA223: DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S, N767SS, Lake Chelan, WA, June 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2022, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Lake Chelan, WA - Coordinates: 47.993333, -120.24444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9933&lon=-120.2444&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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105314/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105314 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA223 ## Probable cause The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to overfly a suitable landing site which resulted in an off-field landing in a lake. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3802570), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3802570), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3802570), [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: [DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3802570), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was soaring when he penetrated two areas of “heavy sink” before reaching the final wave lift of the flight that took him to 16,500 ft. When he left the wave lift the glider began to sink and he quickly focused on regaining lift and did not think about the final glide back to the departure airport. The pilot subsequently overflew a suitable alternative airport as he continued to search for lift while the glider continued to sink at about 1,000 ft per minute. The pilot eventually maneuvered into a position where his best option was to land in a lake when he could not find sufficient lift or return to an airport. Both wings were substantially damaged when the pilot landed in the lake. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2022, about 1515 Pacific daylight time, a DG FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH sailplane, N5532P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lake Chelan, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The sailplane was as operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported he was soaring when he penetrated two areas of “heavy sink” before reaching the final wave lift of the flight that took him to 16,500 ft. When he left the wave lift the glider began to sink and he quickly focused on regaining lift and did not think about the final glide back to the departure airport. The pilot subsequently overflew a suitable alternative airport as he continued to search for lift while the glider continued to sink at about 1,000 ft per minute. The pilot eventually maneuvered into a position where his best option was to land in a lake when he could not find sufficient lift or return to an airport. Both wings were substantially damaged when the pilot landed in the lake. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N767SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N767SS-2024-01-06), registration cancelled 2024-01-06, S/N 1037S36, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DG FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH DG 1000S - Registry model: [DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S](https://openairdocs.org/model/dg-flugzeugbau-dg-1000s) (registry code 3802570) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 1037S36 - Year built: 2003 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sgc Soaring Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: S52, Methow, WA - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,477 total, 35 in this make and model, 1,340 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 20 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KEAT, 36 nm away - METAR: METAR KEAT 222155Z AUTO 33009G18KT 10SM SCT080 27/08 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP132 T02720083= ## 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 20220622010889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220622010889A), Jun 22, 2022: Dg Flugzeugbau Gmbh DG 1000S, Chelan, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from methow vally state airport (S52) for glider mountain soaring. The pilot encountered unexpectedly strong weather forces above lake Chelan… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105314. 8.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14200401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 333 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14409114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR22LA223-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.