Glasflugel H 301 B LIBELLE accident near Brenham, Texas, August 6, 2014
On August 6, 2014 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1968 Glasflugel H 301 B LIBELLE (glider), registered N1615, was substantially damaged in an accident during emergency descent near Brenham, Texas. 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 attempt to maneuver away from power lines during a forced landing, which resulted in a collision with a tree and a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2014 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brenham, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel H 301 B LIBELLE, built 1968 · all H 301 B LIBELLEs on the register
- Registration
- N1615 · 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 pilot was participating in a regional soaring contest when the weather conditions changed and he was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot prepared to land in a field, but once he approached the field he saw power lines. The pilot tried to avoid the power lines but the glider struck a tree and a fence, which resulted in damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the glider that contributed to the cause of the accident.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during emergency descent defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › (general) › (general) › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 604 hours in all; 460 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,618 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 662 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 89TA Walter TX at 5:40 pm
- Destination: 89TA Walter TX
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 CEN14CA409.