Sportavia-Putzer RF5B N55SM
1 September 1991 · Lockport, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 1 September 1991 at about 15:15 local time, a Sportavia-Putzer RF5B registered N55SM, operated by Donald G. Hobel, was involved in an accident near Lockport, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lockport, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lockport Cambria (62NY)
- Coordinates
- 43.1610, -78.6893
- Aircraft
- Sportavia-Putzer RF5B
- Registration
- N55SM
- Category
- Glider
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Donald G. Hobel
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA228
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE GLIDER DURING LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED ON APPROACH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE POWERED GLIDER WAS MAKING A LANDING, WHEN THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE APPLIED RUDDER AND AILERON CORRECTION, BUT THE GLIDER DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK SOME TREES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Sportavia-Putzer RF5B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1983 | Sportavia-Putzer RF5B SPERBER | Warren, Vermont, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 2018 | Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER | Lookout Pass, Montana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1991 | Maule M6-235 | Arcade, New York, United States | Haley, Lawrence E. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172 | Clarence Center, New York, United States | Augusta Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Rhinebeck, New York, United States | Catskill Transportation | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Robinson R-22B | White Plains, New York, United States | Engle Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1991 | Cessna 152 | Springwater, New York, United States | State Aerial Farm Statistics | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1991 | Cessna 152 | Bear Mountain, New York, United States | Control Arrow, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |