# NTSB WPR24LA273: Glasflugel Standard Libelle, N1599, Fields, OR, July 25, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 25, 2024, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Fields, OR · Alvord Desert, lake bed
- Coordinates: 42.6, -118.41
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6000&lon=-118.4100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- 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): 194912
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194912/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194912
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA273

## Probable cause

The glider’s encounter with a gusting wind and downdraft conditions, which resulted in exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and a hard landing.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the glider reported that desert storm fronts had been moving in and out of the area during her flight. When the wind increased, and the glider was unable to maintain or regain altitude due to an absence of thermal activity the pilot elected to land off airport between two approaching storms. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed; however, during the landing flare, the glider encountered a gusting wind and a downdraft, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall about 3-4 ft above the ground. The glider then landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1599](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1599), registered now, S/N 24, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GLASFLUGEL STANDARD LIBELLE
- Registry model: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-standard-libelle) (registry code 3800341) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 24
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 1924
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2024
- Departed: N/A, Fields, OR
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; last flight review April 29, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 38 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 22 knots, gusting 31
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KREO, 24 nm away
- METAR: KREO 252052Z AUTO 22022G31KT 37/03 A3005 RMK AO1 PK WND 26032

## 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 20240725009469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240725009469A), Jul 25, 2024: Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, Rome, OR, Substantial damage. Precautionary landing due to eratic winds and rapidly developing thunderstorms resulting in possible windshear at the surface at time of landing.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194912. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17726830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%206120%20WPR24LA273_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Additional information/statement from pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17744249&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIlot%20additional%20info%20WPR24LA273%20ALVORD%20TERRAIN_WEATHER%20CONDITIONS_ACCIDENT%20DIAGRAM-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17725774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20WPR24LA273-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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