Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & ASW 27-18E N129TD

Summary

On 29 June 2009 at about 21:15 local time, a Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & ASW 27-18E registered N129TD, operated by Timothy Donovan, was involved in an accident near Ephrata, Washington, 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

29 June 2009 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ephrata, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.5461, -119.5867

Aircraft

Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & ASW 27-18E

Registration

N129TD

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Timothy Donovan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ephrata → Ephrata

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA318

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider during flight and his exceedance of the glider’s design limits during an attempted recovery from a spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was preparing for a glider competition with other glider pilots. Witnesses were flying their gliders in the area and reported seeing the glider thermalling, then entering a spin to the right. During the spin, the rotation increased into a rapid rotation and then into a graveyard spiral. One witness reported that during the second spiral rotation the outboard wingtip panels arched upward. Following the flexing of the wings, it appeared that they “...disintegrated...The wings looked like they exploded.” The witness did not see a parachute. Examination of the glider revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Toxicological evaluation of tissue samples from the pilot were consistent with the use of marijuana and of diazepam (a prescription anti-anxiety medication also known by the trade name Valium) at some time prior to the accident, but no blood was available for analysis and no estimate could be made of when the substances were last used or whether the pilot may have been impaired by their use.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.