Schleicher ASW-27 N127PC

Summary

On 29 May 2012 at about 19:35 local time, a Schleicher ASW-27 registered N127PC was involved in an accident near Ionia, Michigan, 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 May 2012 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Ionia, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Ionia County Airport (Y70)

Coordinates

42.9381, -85.0606

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW-27

Registration

N127PC

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ionia → Ionia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA330

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper airspeed in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an inadvertent stall while maneuvering at an altitude that did not provide a margin for recovery.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider initiated a turn about 200 feet above the ground near the airport. After initiating the turn, the left wing and nose of the glider dropped, and the glider descended and impacted into trees. Recorded wind conditions showed the presence of wind gusts that continued to increase after the accident. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Data from digital devices onboard the glider recorded a speed near the glider stall speed immediately before the accident. The glider’s flight path, as described by a witness and recorded by the glider’s onboard digital devices, was consistent with the glider being in a stalled condition before the descent into terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.