Glasflugel Libelle 201B accident near Hampshire, Illinois, May 24, 2003
On May 24, 2003 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Glasflugel Libelle 201B (glider), registered N3650, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampshire, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the off airport landing. A factor was the rock.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2003 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Hampshire, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel Libelle 201B
- Registration
- N3650 · registry record · serial 166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider sustained substantial damage when it struck a rock while conducting an off-airport landing. The pilot reported that during the 2 hour and 40 minute flight he reached a maximum altitude of 8,200 feet agl. The pilot reported that the glider lost altitude for the remainder of the flight. The pilot stated that he realized he would be unable to reach the airport and decided to perform an off-airport landing to an nearby agricultural field. The pilot reported that upon landing he felt the tail wheel strike something hard. When he exited the aircraft, he found he had struck a large rock which was not visible when he made his landing.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,002 hours in all; 178 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,428.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 2002; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 771 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55LL Union IL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 9:05 pm from KDKB, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.