Schleicher ASW-27 N503CW
12 April 2013 · Middletown, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 12 April 2013 at about 20:15 local time, a Schleicher ASW-27 registered N503CW, operated by Westerinen Charles J, was involved in an accident near Middletown, California, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 20:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Middletown, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Crazy Creek Glider Port
- Coordinates
- 38.7719, -122.5753
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-27
- Registration
- N503CW
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Westerinen Charles J
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Glider Tow
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Middletown → Middletown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR13CA218
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in a forced landing on rough terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that during his return to the airport, the glider encountered heavy downdrafts. Unable to reach the airport, he executed an off-airport landing to a field. During the landing on rough terrain, the glider ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail and wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schleicher ASW-27 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2013 | Schleicher ASW-27 | Elbert, Colorado, United States | Culbertson Rick C | No injuries | - |
| 26 May 2014 | Schleicher ASW 27 | Cedar Valley, Utah, United States | Urbanczyk Kirk M | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 2012 | Schleicher ASW-27 | Ionia, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Jul 2011 | Schleicher ASW-27 | Preston, Idaho, United States | Blackburn L Anderson | No injuries | - |
| 7 May 2011 | Schleicher ASW-27 | Athens, Tennessee, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 2011 | Schleicher ASW-27 | Brigham City, Utah, United States | Cumiford James H JR | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 2013 | Bell 206B | Acton, California, United States | Orbic Air | Fatal | 3 |
| 10 Feb 2013 | Bell 206B | Shandon, California, United States | Sycan Corp DBA | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 2013 | Grumman American Avn AA 1C | Hemet, California, United States | William Ralph Eddings | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 2013 | St Clair LANCAIR 360 | Williams, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 2013 | Avions Fairey TIPSY NIPPER T-66 | Winters, California, United States | Sharman Enterprises Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Sep 2013 | Cessna 172N | Long Beach, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |