Diamond Aircraft Ind GMBH HK 36 accident near Blanchester, Ohio, July 20, 2016
On July 20, 2016 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1998 Diamond Aircraft Ind GMBH HK 36 (glider), registered N526TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Blanchester, Ohio (Private Grass Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the powered glider during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2016 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Blanchester, Ohio · Private Grass Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind GMBH HK 36 TC, built 1998
- Registration
- N526TC · registry record · serial 36626
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a powered glider reported that during the landing roll on a narrow grass airstrip, the glider veered to the left of centerline. He attempted to correct for the veer with right rudder input, but was unsuccessful. The left main landing gear traveled over a slope in the runway [crown for drainage purposes] and the left wing impacted corn stalks. The glider spun to the left and slid down the drainage area into the corn field. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the powered 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 135.1 hours in all
- Last flight review: November 19, 2011
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,653 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912A3 (piston); 220 hours total
- Operator: Eastern Cincinnati Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 7:00 pm
- Destination: N/A Blanchester OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KILN, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 27, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.