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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 3, 1993 · Swift S-1 · N818AW

Blairstown, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 3, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Blairstown, NJ
Aircraft
Swift S-1
Tail Number
N818AW
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC94LA005

THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN THE EXPERIMENTAL GLIDER. HE WAS FLYING ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE EAST SIDE OF A RIDGE LINE THAT RUNS IN A GENERAL DIRECTION OF NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST. A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED, AND THE GLIDER ENTERED A SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT HAD 1000 HOURS OF GLIDER EXPERIENCE. WINDS REPORTED IN THE AREA WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 15, GUSTING TO 25 MILES PER HOUR.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor is wind gust and the pilot's inexperience in type aircraft.

Full Narrative

On Sunday, October 3, 1993, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Swift S-1, N818AW, a glider, owned and piloted by Walter Parrasch, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees while maneuvering 5 miles north of the Blairstown Airport, Blairstown, New Jersey. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. This was the pilots first flight in the Polish built experimental glider. The flight was along the east side of a ridge line. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated: "...[I] was flying over the ridge at approximately 300 feet above the ridge. The wind was a quartering downwind. I...encountered a wind gust which dropped my right wing and...my airspeed dropped ...The glider started to spin and there was no control of the glider at this point. Seconds later it went straight down to the trees..." The winds on the day of the accident were reported to be from 300 degrees at 15, gusting to 25 miles per hour. The ridge line runs in an approximate direction of 060/240 degrees.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSwift S-1
Tail NumberN818AW
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 69 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 15 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data