Pilot Debrief

SCHLEICHER ASW 27 near Reno, NV — 2015-04-05

Final reportWPR15LA142
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Date
2015-04-05
Location
Reno, NV, USA
Aircraft
SCHLEICHER ASW 27
Registration
N27QV
Category
Glider
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The glider's encounter with severe turbulent atmospheric conditions after the pilot inadvertently entered clouds, which led to his inability to maintain a proper airspeed and the subsequent in-flight breakup of the glider.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot was conducting a local personal flight in a glider. The pilot reported that, while about 14,000 ft, he attempted to navigate through a gap in the clouds, but the clouds quickly filled in and engulfed the glider. The glider's airspeed increased, and the wings subsequently separated from the glider. The pilot bailed out of the glider and descended to the ground using a personal parachute; the glider fell to the ground in pieces. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preexisting structural anomalies. A review of weather conditions reported in the area about the time of the accident revealed sustained wind from the south between about 25 and 30 knots with gusts between 30 and 35 knots. Geostationary weather satellite imagery showed standing clouds over the region in the hour or two leading up to the accident, and polar-orbiting satellite data depicted clouds along the final portion of the glider's flightpath about 40 minutes before the accident. Given the clouds and wind, the atmosphere was likely unstable, which is indicative of severe, transient, and short-lived turbulence. It is likely that the glider encountered severe turbulence while the pilot was maneuvering it in the clouds, which caused the glider's airspeed to increase beyond its structural limitations and led to its in-flight breakup.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided entering clouds near Reno.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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