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August 25, 2007 · Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus · N62305

Heber, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Heber, UT
Aircraft
Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
Tail Number
N62305
Operator
Rulon J Horne
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX07LA257

The glider approached the destination airport and adjoined with the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to the active runway. The glider immediately started a rapid descent with the spoilers in the extended (open) position. The glider continued in that configuration until reaching about 200 feet above ground level (agl), at which point the nose pitched up. The glider entered a stall/spin, impacting the desert terrain below, short of the runway. An examination of the wreckage disclosed that the spoilers were fully open at the time of impact and the landing gear was still in the undercarriage. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure was found during the examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin, undershoot and collision with the ground.

Full Narrative

On August 25, 2007, about 1630 mountain daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus glider, N62305, departed from controlled flight and collided with terrain while on approach to Heber City Municipal Airport (Russ McDonald Field), Heber, Utah. The pilot, who was additionally a co-owner, was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The glider sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed from Heber about 1545. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage the day after the accident and interviewed several witnesses. He stated that witnesses observed the glider approaching the airport. The glider was configured with the spoilers in the extended (open) position. While on approach, the glider stalled and spun into the desert terrain below, short of the runway. He reported that an examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure with the glider. In an interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, another co-owner of the accident glider stated that the pilot departed Heber about 1545 with utilization of a tow plane. The glider was released in the vicinity of Wellsburg Valley for the personal flight. The co-owner reported having numerous conversations with glider pilots who observed the accident glider's approach and subsequent impact. The witnesses stated that the glider approached from the west and crossed over the airport about mid-field. The glider made a normal left turn to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 21. The glider immediately started a rapid descent with the spoilers open. It continued in that configuration until reaching about 200 feet above ground level (agl), at which point the nose pitched up. The glider entered a stall/spin, descending behind surrounding hangers and impacting a field. The co-owner performed an examination of the wreckage under the auspice of a FAA inspector. The examination disclosed that the spoilers were fully open at the time of impact, and the landing gear was still in the undercarriage. He added that no radio transmissions where heard from the accident pilot preceding the event, and the weather at the time was normal visual meteorological conditions. At the time of this writing, the pilot has no recollection of any events from the day of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 MDT
Nearest AirportHeber City Municipal (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length6898 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
Tail NumberN62305
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRulon J Horne
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · None · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.94 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data