Pilot Debrief

SCHLEICHER ALEXANDER GMBH & CO ASH 26 E near Parowan, UT — 2010-06-15

Final reportWPR10LA294
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Date
2010-06-15
Location
Parowan, UT, USA
Aircraft
SCHLEICHER ALEXANDER GMBH & CO ASH 26 E
Registration
N455S
Category
Glider
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid the other glider climbing in the same thermal.

NTSB narrative

Two glider pilots had entered the same thermal while participating in a competition task that required them to fly to a point about 90 miles from their point of departure and then to return. Both pilots where flying back to the point of departure after reaching the turnaround point when they entered the thermal. During their first full turn in the thermal, the left wing of one of the gliders and the nose of other glider came in contact. The impact resulted in the separation of the outboard three feet of the wing of one glider and the denting of the lower nose area of the other. The pilots of both gliders were able to return to the point of departure, where they both completed uneventful landings. Neither pilot had seen the other glider as he entered the thermal.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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