Schleicher ASW27-18E N297JS

Summary

On 3 June 2015 at about 18:00 local time, a Schleicher ASW27-18E registered N297JS was involved in an accident near Lamy, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 June 2015 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lamy, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.4811, -105.8561

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW27-18E

Registration

N297JS

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moriarty → Moriarty

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA253

1 person died.

A loss of glider control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence and the glider’s severe fragmentation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot was conducting a cross-country flight with a group of other gliders. One of the pilots in the group reported seeing the accident glider in an unusual attitude during the flight. When the accident pilot did not return from the flight, a search began. The composite glider was found the following day, and it was severely fragmented, which prevented a comprehensive examination; however, no evidence of a preimpact failure was noted. Although the pilot was at increased risk for an acute cardiac or neurologic event based on his history of cardiovascular disease and stroke, insufficient operational and medical evidence was found to determine whether or not such an event occurred or whether impairment or incapacitation caused or contributed to the accident. Based on the available evidence, the reason for the apparent loss of glider control could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.