Aerotek ZUNI N19PF

Summary

On 23 March 1995 at about 20:20 local time, a Aerotek ZUNI registered N19PF was involved in an accident near Morganton, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 March 1995 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Morganton, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Morganton-Lenior (MRN)

Coordinates

35.7408, -81.6899

Aircraft

Aerotek ZUNI

Registration

N19PF

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95LA069

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BECAUSE OF GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE TREES TO THE EAST OF THE AIRPORT DURING AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER HIT WINDSHEAR. AS A RESULT OF THE WINDSHEAR, THE GLIDER WAS IN A 60 TO 70 DEGREE BANK TO THE RIGHT AND THE GLIDER HAD LOST AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. A SAILPLANE INSTRUCTOR WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60 KNOTS BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER CONSIDERING THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AN INSPECTION OF THE GLIDER REVEALED NO INDICATIONS OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE PILOT REPORTED MODERATE TURBULENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.