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June 16, 2011 · Eiriavion Oy PIK 20B · N99136

Sterling, MA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 16, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Sterling, MA
Aircraft
Eiriavion Oy PIK 20B
Tail Number
N99136
Operator
Timothy Greenwood
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA11CA350

According to the pilot, this was his first flight in this flap only, high performance glider. The glider was towed to 5,000 feet, where the pilot practiced pattern work as well as extending and retracting the flaps, from zero degrees to 90 degrees, while maintaining an adequate airspeed for landing. The pilot entered a tight traffic pattern at the airport and extended the flaps to 30 degrees. On the final leg of the traffic pattern, the glider was in line with the runway, and the pilot intended to extend the flaps to 45 degrees, but was unsure if he did so. When the glider was halfway down the runway, the pilot knew he had excessive airspeed and was going to land further down the runway than intended. Near the end of the runway, the pilot thought he landed so he pushed the controls forward in order to gain ground control, but the glider continued over trees past the end of the runway. Since the glider did not have enough altitude to safely turn back to the runway, the pilot landed it in trees resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that he accumulated 107 hours of total flight time in a glider, of which, no hours were in the same make and model as the accident glider. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the glider.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudgment of the amount of flaps required to attain the proper touchdown point. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's limited experience in the high performance glider.

Full Narrative

According to the pilot, this was his first flight in this flap only, high performance glider. The glider was towed to 5,000 feet, where the pilot practiced pattern work as well as extending and retracting the flaps, from zero degrees to 90 degrees, while maintaining an adequate airspeed for landing. The pilot entered a tight traffic pattern at the airport and extended the flaps to 30 degrees. On the final leg of the traffic pattern, the glider was in line with the runway, and the pilot intended to extend the flaps to 45 degrees, but was unsure if he did so. When the glider was halfway down the runway, the pilot knew he had excessive airspeed and was going to land further down the runway than intended. Near the end of the runway, he pushed the controls forward in order to gain ground control, but the glider continued over trees past the end of the runway. Since the glider did not have enough altitude to safely turn back to the runway, the pilot landed in trees resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the glider and that he had never flown this make and model glider.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 EDT
Nearest AirportSterling Airport (0nm)
Runway34
Runway Length3086 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftEiriavion Oy PIK 20B
Tail NumberN99136
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTimothy Greenwood
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter29.86 inHg
Observation Time18:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data