# NTSB WPR25LA015: Glasflugel Standard Libelle, N41FL, Moriarty, NM, October 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 11, 2024, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Moriarty, NM - Coordinates: 34.978167, -106.00002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9782&lon=-106.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - 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): 195318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195318/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195318 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA015 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath, which resulted in the glider landing on rough terrain short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3800341), [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. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=3800341), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the glider reported that, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he partially deployed the flight spoilers and extended his downwind leg as the glider was too high. He misjudged his distance to the runway during this time and the glider lost more altitude than the pilot had anticipated. The pilot flared during final; however, the glider impacted rough terrain short of the runway threshold. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41FL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41FL), registered now, S/N 292 (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: 292 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 730.3 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2023 - Departed: 0E0, Moriarty, NM - Airport: 0E0, Moriarty Municipal Airport, runway 26, 7,702 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review August 25, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,131 total, 67 in this make and model, 1,021 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.40 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KCQC, 17 nm away - METAR: KCQC 111953Z AUTO 31014G22KT 10SM CLR 26/M08 A3040 RMK AO2 SLP200 T02561083 ## 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 20241011021319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241011021319A), Oct 11, 2024: Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELLE, Moriarty, NM, Substantial damage. On October 11, 2024, at or around 13:10 MST, a Glasflugel Standard Libelle, crashed (accident) just short of the runway while landing at Moriarty Municipal… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195318. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18007923&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18008415&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.