Schleicher ASW 27 N661T

Summary

On 10 March 2005 at about 19:00 local time, a Schleicher ASW 27 registered N661T was involved in an accident near Clermont, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 March 2005 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Clermont, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Seminole Lake Gliderport (6FLO)

Coordinates

28.4058, -81.8378

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW 27

Registration

N661T

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clermont → Clermont

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA05CA075

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent deploying of the spoilers, while on final approach, resulting in the glider descending and impacting trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated after entering the traffic pattern on the downwind leg he noticed a motor glider on the runway. He continued to descend to land while keeping an eye on it, but allowed himself to get low in the traffic pattern. He compensated by cutting the pattern short. As he approached the edge of the runway he attempted to pull the flaps all the way back to clear some particularly tall trees, but mistakenly pulled the spoiler handle. The glider then impacted with trees. The responding FAA accident inspector stated he found the glider suspended by pine trees, about 30 feet above the ground in about a 60-degree nose low attitude. The tail section was broken away from the fuselage and there was extensive damage to both wings. He found the spoilers deployed and the flaps to be in the fully retracted position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.