Monroe-Walton County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monroe, Georgia 30656
Sunday, May 4, 2014 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The glider pilot was practicing cross country maneuvers, but was forced to alter his destination due to weak lifting conditions encountered during the flight. According to the pilot, on his return leg to the departure airport he "started to get low" and began looking for an alternate landing site. While at 1,000 feet agl the pilot proceeded towards a farmer's field to initiate an off-field landing. The pilot stated that he may have initiated a brief turn at the last minute to search for another landing area, but could not recollect any additional events leading up to the accident. The glider impacted trees and subsequently came to rest on the ground about 100 yards south of a tree line. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and empennage section. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper selection of an off-airport landing site and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during an off airport landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Monroe
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30656
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334640N
Event Location Longitude 0834111W
Event Location Airport Monroe-Walton County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID D73
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 120
Airport Elevation 875
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID KWDR
Elevation of weather observation facility 943
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 4
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33021
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 21 2014 2:20PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N777LR
NTSB Number ERA14CA220
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHLEICHER
Aircraft Model ASW 20
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20269
Certified Max Gross Weight 1157
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 20 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1822
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NUGENT DANIEL A
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SUWANEE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 300245487
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Dana Hardy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Decatur
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30030
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code D73
Departure City Monroe
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code D73
Destination City Monroe
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 21 2014 2:20PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
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 --