# NTSB WPR23LA245: Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, N26DX, Williams, CA, June 26, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 26, 2023, 16:46 local (23:46 UTC)
- Place: Williams, CA · Williams, California
- Coordinates: 39.163502, -122.13164
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1635&lon=-122.1316&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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): 192487
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA245
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192487/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192487
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA245

## Probable cause

The pilot’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a collision with 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: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=05624RU), [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 Alexander ASH 26 E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05624RU), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05624RU), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05624RU), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The glider pilot reported that he partially extended the wing spoilers and completed a pre-landing checklist while on left base for his intended destination airport. Shortly after, the glider encountered “significant sinking air” and started a descent. He then maneuvered the glider directly towards the runway and stowed the wing spoilers to extend his glide for a precautionary landing. Subsequently, the glider impacting terrain short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the nose of the glider. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26DX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26DX), registered now, S/N 26242 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ALEXANDER GMBH & CO ASH 26 E
- Registry model: [Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-alexander-ash-26-e) (registry code 05624RU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Diamond AE50R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/diamond-ae50r) (registry code 21100, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 26242
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 352.2
- Engines: AUSTRO ENGINES AE50RAB 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Condition, February 14, 2023, 1.5 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CN12, Williams, runway 16, 2,000 × 20 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 12, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 31,000 total, 122.2 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 23.7 in the last 90 days, 12.2 in the last 30 days, 4.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: KMYV, 26 nm away
- METAR: KMYV 262353Z AUTO 10SM CLR 31/11 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP110 T03060106 10311 20222 56021

## 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 20230626010259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230626010259A), Jun 26, 2023: Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & Co ASH 26 E, Williams, CA, Substantial damage. The glider took off from Williams , CA. Airport (CN12) at approximately 1229 PDT. Returned to CN12 at approximately 1540. During landing approach pilot…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192487. 3.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15792901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_flat%20WPR23LA245F_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16122820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20WPR23LA245-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.

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