Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cleburne, Texas 76033
Sunday, August 31, 2008 14:18 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While performing a landing into an open field, the glider pilot experienced a loss of control and impacted terrain. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anolmalies. A review of the Cambridge Aero Instrument data recording device displayed that after failing to acquire thermal lift, the pilot manuevered for a left base pattern to a grass field. A low level of diphenhydramine, an over the counter sedating antihistamine often known by the trade name Benadryl, was found in the pilot's blood, well below the concentrations normally associated with impairment.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of control inflight for undetermined reason.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1418
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Cleburne
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76033
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 321637n
Event Location Longitude 0971848w
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1425 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID CPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 854
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24755
NTSB Notification Source FAA SW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 31 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 27 2009 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Fort Worth FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30WK
NTSB Number DFW08LA220
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 SCHLEICHER
Aircraft Model ASW-20B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20641
Certified Max Gross Weight 1157
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 30 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1513
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James Rider
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8031 JORDAN LN
Aircraft Owner City MIDLOTHIAN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76065-5956
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James Rider
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8031 JORDAN LN
Operator City MIDLOTHIAN
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76065-5956
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code TA11
Departure City MIDLOTHIAN
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1326
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 2 2008 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --