Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peoria, Arizona 85382
Thursday, August 10, 1995 14:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF AND REACHING 3,000 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF THERMAL LIFT AND DECIDED TO MAKE A LANDING TO A 1,500-FOOT EMERGENCY AIRSTRIP. HE ELECTED TO LAND UPHILL TO THE NORTH WITH A 10 KNOT TAIL WIND, GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL, HE ENCOUNTERED A THERMAL LIFT AND REALIZED HE WOULD LAND TOO LONG AND HE EXECUTED AN 'S' MANEUVER TO LOSE ALTITUDE. DURING THE TURN, THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH GROUND. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE GLIDER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper inflight decision to attempt a tail wind landing to a short runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PEORIA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85382
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1800
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 43
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 846
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 10 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 720
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N462E
NTSB Number LAX95LA285
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schempp-Hirth
Aircraft Model CIRRUS-B
Aircraft Series Identifier CIRRUS-B
Aircraft Serial Number 216
Certified Max Gross Weight 860
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 2 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 1549
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HANS HEYDRICH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14602 N. 25TH PLACE
Aircraft Owner City PHOENIX
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85032
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AZ05
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --