Schleicher ASW 24 N37T

Summary

On 4 August 2019 at about 20:00 local time, a Schleicher ASW 24 registered N37T was involved in an accident near Paulden, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 2019 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Paulden, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pilots Rest (AZ57)

Coordinates

34.9317, -112.5175

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW 24

Registration

N37T

Category

Glider

Year built

1990

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coyote Springs → Coyote Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA483

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's distraction due to the environment, his failure to lower the landing gear, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control while landing the glider, which resulted in impact with a utility box.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, due to the unimproved airport environment blending in with the surrounding environment, he was unable to identify the runway and decided to land the glider on a dirt road. While concentrating on landing, he failed to extend the landing gear. On short final, he noticed that the landing gear was not extended, and while changing hands to extend the landing gear, the glider drifted right of the dirt road. Upon landing on the dirt road, the glider veered right and impacted a utility box. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and canopy. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.