Socorro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Saturday, August 28, 2010 9:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a written statement received from the Civil Air Patrol, and forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board, the glider lost lift while preparing to land. The pilot selected an off-field landing location and during the landing attempt, encountered terrain and a fence that was not expected. The glider was substantially damaged during the impact. An examination of the glider and its systems, conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of lift that resulted in an off-airport landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Socorro
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87801
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340100N
Event Location Longitude 1065400W
Event Location Airport Socorro
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KONM
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 1010 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KONM
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27489
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2010 1:03PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N361BA
NTSB Number CEN10CA507
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LET
Aircraft Model L-23 SUPER BLANIK
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 008703
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 650
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CIVIL AIR PATROL INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 105 S HANSELL ST
Aircraft Owner City MAXWELL AFB
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36112-6332
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CIVIL AIR PATROL INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 105 S HANSELL ST
Operator City MAXWELL AFB
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 36112-6332
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KONM
Departure City Socorro
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KONM
Destination City Socorro
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 21 2010 3:12PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --