# NTSB WPR23LA182: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, N774JP, Marana, AZ, April 2, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 2, 2023, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Marana, AZ · El Tiro Gliderport
- Coordinates: 32.427015, -111.38955
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4270&lon=-111.3895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- 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): 122570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/122570/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=122570
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA182

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing in a dust devil.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

**This report was modified on November 15, 2023. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.** The pilot of the glider reported that, during the landing flare, a dust devil pushed the glider to the ground, causing a hard landing. The glider bounced and then stalled, making another hard impact on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage cage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N774JP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N774JP-2024-10-17), registration cancelled 2024-10-17, S/N 97, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH DISCUS-2B
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-2b) (registry code 3801904) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 97
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 2021
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 16, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: AZ67, El Tiro, runway 26R, 2,000 × 100 ft, dirt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KTUS, 28 nm away
- METAR: KTUS 022253Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 27/M11 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP106 T02671106

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=122570. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15592773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA182%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15593462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA182-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.