# NTSB WPR22LA364: Schleicher ASW-20, N220CW, Hood River, OR, September 29, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 29, 2022, 14:07 local (21:07 UTC) - Place: Hood River, OR · 200 feet short of runway 25 - Coordinates: 45.674276, -121.52673 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6743&lon=-121.5267&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: 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): 106045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106045/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106045 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA364 ## Probable cause The pilot’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight. ## 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 ASW-20, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3801506), [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 · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3801506), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Schleicher ASW-20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=3801506), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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 ASW-20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801506), [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-20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3801506), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the glider reported that, during the return flight to the airport, he encountered a higher sink rate than expected and did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport. During an emergency landing in a fruit orchard, the glider landing gear contacted utility pole wires, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N220CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N220CW-2023-06-02), registration cancelled 2023-06-02, S/N 20366, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-20 - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (registry code 3801506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 20366 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 1165 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2022 - Departed: 4S2, Hood River, OR - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 4S2, Ken Jernstedt Airfield, runway 25, 3,040 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; last flight review September 30, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 435 total, 321 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: K4S2 - METAR: K4S2 292055Z AUTO 30010G16KT 10SM BKN060 BKN070 21/13 A3011 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220929017299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220929017299A), Sep 29, 2022: Schleicher ASW-20, Hood River, OR, Substantial damage. After tow release the pilot retracted the landing gear and proceeded in a south east direction still west of the ridge where he encountered significantly more… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106045. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14787369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA364%20signed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14919918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA364%20Photo-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.