Amateur-built HP-18 accident near Hempstead, Texas, May 21, 1995
On May 21, 1995 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built HP-18 (glider), registered N15DP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hempstead, Texas. 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 PILOT'S POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. THE LACK OF THERMAL LIFT WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1995 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hempstead, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HP-18
- Registration
- N15DP · registry record · serial 47
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER BEGAN DESCENDING DUE TO THE LACK OF THERMAL LIFTING. WHEN THE GLIDER HAD DESCENDED BELOW 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL), THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE A LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING STRUCK A HAY BALE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING. THE PILOT STATED IN THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT THAT THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY HAVING 'A LANDING SPOT AND PATTERN SET UP PRIOR TO DESCENDING BELOW 1000 FEET AGL.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 588 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 955 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.