Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS accident near Stonewall, Texas, July 1, 2011
On July 1, 2011 at about 4:48 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS (glider), registered N533BG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Stonewall, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of directional control during an off-field landing in gusting wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2011 · about 4:48 pm local time
- Place
- Stonewall, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau DUO DISCUS
- Registration
- N533BG · registry record · serial 533
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot experienced a loss of lift while soaring and performed an off-field landing to a pasture. During the landing, a gust of wind blew the glider down an embankment and into a barbed wire fence. During the impact with the fence, the left wing sustained leading edge damage, and the empennage separated partially from the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the glider and its systems revealed no preimpact malfunctions or failures.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,013 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 232.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 2011
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 5C1 San Antonio TX
- Destination: 5C1 San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 38,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KT82, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.