Schleicher ASG29-15M F-CIFB
17 August 2012 · Uvalde, Texas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 17 August 2012 at about 20:20 local time, a Schleicher ASG29-15M registered F-CIFB, operated by Louis Bouderlique, was involved in an accident near Uvalde, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Uvalde, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Garner Field (KUVA)
- Coordinates
- 29.1136, -99.9450
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASG29-15M
- Registration
- F-CIFB
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Louis Bouderlique
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Air Race/Show
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Uvalde → Uvalde
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN12LA553
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The glider pilot’s inadequate visual lookout and collision avoidance just after joining a thermal in which other gliders were operating, which resulted in a midair collision with another glider.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilots of both gliders were engaged in an international gliding competition. The pilot of F-CIFB said he was circling at an altitude of about 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) when he observed that the pilot of D-6080 was operating in a good “bubble” (thermal) about 325 feet below him. The pilot of F-CIFB maneuvered his glider into the same “bubble” behind D-6080. Shortly thereafter, he heard his glider’s proximity alarm sound "BELOW" and felt an impact. The pilot of D-6080 said he was climbing with several other gliders in a strong thermal when he was struck by F-CIFB from behind. He said he did not see the glider and was unaware of its presence. The collision occurred about 5,700 feet msl. The pilot of D-6080 parachuted to safety. The pilot of F-CIFB landed the glider uneventfully with minor damage to its left wing. The empennage of D-6080 was severed and later found some distance from the main wreckage. Damage was consistent with D-6080 being struck from below and behind by F-CIFB.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schleicher ASG29-15M | F-CIFB | Louis Bouderlique | Minor |
| Schleicher ASG29-15M | D-6080 | Peter Hartmann | Substantial |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 2012 | Hiller UH-12B | Rio Vista, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 May 2012 | Short Bros SHORTS SD3-60 | Houston, Texas, United States | ACC Integrated Services Inc | No injuries | - |
| 21 Feb 2012 | Cessna 180H | Conroe, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 2012 | Beechcraft 58 | Cypress, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 2012 | Piper PA-28R-180 | Roanoke, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 20 Nov 2012 | Boeing A75L3 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |