Plane Crash List

Rich WOODSTOCK I N21468

2 October 2001 · Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 2 October 2001 at about 15:00 local time, a Rich WOODSTOCK I registered N21468 was involved in an accident near Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 15:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Nearest airport
Greene County (WAY)
Coordinates
39.8892, -80.1808
Aircraft
Rich WOODSTOCK I
Registration
N21468
Category
Glider
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Waynesburg → Waynesburg
Aircraft damage
Minor
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC02LA004

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 1 0 0

Probable cause

An improperly secured canopy latch, which resulted in canopy separation during liftoff and the pilot's subsequent loss of control. A factor was the improper installation of the latch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot/builder of the glider made five successful tow releases and landings from a paved runway, and was making his first tow release from grass. The driver towed the glider to the starting point, the student pilot got onboard, and he and another individual installed the canopy. The student pilot/builder checked the security of the canopy with a "push-up" on it, then began the glider tow. At liftoff, about 38 knots, the glider hit a clump of grass, and the canopy departed the airframe. The student pilot raised his left arm to protect his face, and thought he must have pulled back on the control stick as he avoided the canopy. The glider stalled about 10 feet in the air, then hit the ground. The student pilot/builder had difficulty latching the canopy prior to previous tows, and felt that the latching mechanism may have been twisted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other accidents in this area

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20 Oct 2001 Cessna 182
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9 Sep 2001 Murray JN4-D
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4 May 2001 Piper PA-32-301
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28 Jul 2001 Holsclaw BARNETT J4B
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All 170,864 records in United States