Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 accident near Wallis, Texas, June 6, 2014
On June 6, 2014 at about 7:06 pm local time, a 1984 Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 (glider), registered N245AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Wallis, Texas (Ghsa-Wallis Glideport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain direction control of the glider during takeoff in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2014 · about 7:06 pm local time
- Place
- Wallis, Texas · Ghsa-Wallis Glideport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5, built 1984 · all NIMBUS 3/24.5s on the register
- Registration
- N245AB · no longer on the register · serial 65
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot reported that he was to be towed by a tow plane and make a "no assist launch." The glider's wings were loosely supported by wing stands and the tow rope was attached from the tow plane to the glider. When the slack was out of the tow rope, the glider pilot made a radio call "Go, go, go" to the tow pilot. The glider began to lift off from the grass runway when pilot noticed that the tow plane moved left laterally from what he assumed was a gust of wind. The tow pilot corrected back to the right and the glider pilot readied to do the same. When the glider entered the area of suspected wind gust, it suddenly ascended about 8 feet and the left wing lifted. The pilot applied full left aileron and left rudder and forward pressure on the control stick in order to descend and regain the correct flight path. The left wing continued to lift so the glider pilot released the tow rope as the glider made a 30 degree right turn. The glider exited the area of suspected wind gust and the glider pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the glider impacted the runway. The glider sustained substantial damage to the rear fuselage and empennage. He also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Glider tow event during takeoff
- Abrupt maneuver during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,782 hours in all; 477 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2,645 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,653 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: TE71 Wallis TX at 7:06 pm
- Destination: TE71 Wallis TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KSGR, 19 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN14CA280.