Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I N21468

Summary

On 11 October 2015, a Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I registered N21468 was involved in an accident near Decatur, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 October 2015

Classification

Accident

Location

Decatur, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Decatur Muni (LUD)

Coordinates

33.2603, -97.5814

Aircraft

Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I

Registration

N21468

Category

Glider

Year built

1999

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Decatur → Decatur

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA007

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning from the downwind to the base leg of the pattern in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the glider exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the glider received a tow to altitude about 1430; about 30 minutes later, the glider was seen maneuvering between 3,000 and 4,000 ft several miles from the airport. When the glider did not return by sunset (civil twilight was 1926), it was reported missing, and the wreckage was subsequently located near the approach end of the runway several hours later. During postaccident examination, no preimpact anomalies with the glider were noted. The elevator trim was displaced, consistent with a nose-up trim setting or for slow airspeed. Impact damage, the orientation of the wreckage, and ground scar signatures were consistent with the glider being in a stall/spin before impact, on an approximate downwind-to-base leg of the traffic pattern. While the time of the accident is unknown, wind averaging about 12 knots with gusts to 18 knots, existed at the airport until about 1755. An autopsy found no evidence of medical impairment of the pilot. Although toxicological testing was positive for two medications that the pilot had previously reported to the Federal Aviation Administration, the presence of the medication was deemed not to pose a hazard to flight safety. The circumstances of the accident were consistent with the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and angle-of-attack as the glider turned from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern, and the glider's subsequent stall/spin. It is possible that the gusting wind may have contributed to the pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.