Reynolds MARSKE-MONARCH 1997 N5377

Summary

On 6 September 1997 at about 18:19 local time, a Reynolds MARSKE-MONARCH 1997 registered N5377 was involved in an accident near Sutton, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 1997 at 18:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Sutton, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Braxton Co (48I)

Coordinates

38.6591, -80.7106

Aircraft

Reynolds MARSKE-MONARCH 1997

Registration

N5377

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD97LA118

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A related factors was the pilot lack of familiarity with the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the glider was towed to 500 feet AGL, and released. He said that when he started his turn, the left wing dropped, and the glider entered a spin to the left. He applied opposite rudder, and the glider recovered after two turns. He said shortly thereafter he became disoriented, and does not remember anything else. A witness said that the glider entered another spin, about 100 feet AGL, and struck the ground at the approach end of runway 01. The pilot reported over 10 hours in gliders including 1 hour in make and model. He reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the glider. According to the FAA, the glider was being flight tested, and had flown six times on the day of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.