ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 178956
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Sunday 23 August 2015 |
| Time: | 13:37 |
| Type: |  Schleicher ASW 20 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N878S |
| MSN: | 20268 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1764 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Waller County NE of Hempstead, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Waller, TX (89TA) |
| Waller, TX (89TA) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The commercial pilot was conducting a personal local flight in the glider. The tow pilot reported that the glider was uneventfully towed to and released at the prearranged altitude of 2,000 ft above ground level (agl). GPS data from the glider showed that it flew patterns consistent with maneuvers to gain altitude in areas of lift. The remainder of the glider's flight was downward and it did not reach an altitude greater than about 300 ft agl during the remaining flight segment, indicating that the pilot was likely attempting an off-airport landing. The data then showed that the glider flew into an area bounded by power lines and then the recording stopped. After a power interruption on the ground was detected, the glider was found near damaged power lines. An examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact anomalies. A family member indicated that the pilot made a cell phone call during the accident flight; however, the cell phone did not have any record of a call being made during the flight.
Although the pilot’s autopsy revealed that he had significant coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, which is most often a result of longstanding hypertension, no evidence was found indicating that a recent coronary ischemia had occurred. Thus, it is unlikely that the pilot’s cardiac disease caused any symptoms that contributed to the accident. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the glider pilot attempted an off-airport landing and failed to maintain clearance from the power lines.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an attempted off-airport landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=878S
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Aug-2015 04:18 | Geno | Added |
| 24-Aug-2015 08:11 | gerard57 | Updated [Date] |
| 02-Sep-2015 13:20 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:30 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 19-Aug-2017 13:47 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation