Caproni Vizzola Cos Aero A-21 N40171

Summary

On 28 May 2004 at about 11:53 local time, a Caproni Vizzola Cos Aero A-21 registered N40171 was involved in an accident near Starkville, Mississippi, 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.

Date

28 May 2004 at 11:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Starkville, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

George M. Bryan Field (STF)

Coordinates

33.4331, -88.8486

Aircraft

Caproni Vizzola Cos Aero A-21

Registration

N40171

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Starkville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA04CA090

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation and his delayed decision to return to the airport leading to an off airport landing as a result of deteriorating weather conditions. A finding in the investigation was the windshield that fogged up.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that prior to the flight he was concerned with the possibility of a low cloud deck forming, but due to the four to five degree Fahrenheit temperature/dew point spread and a gentle wind he decided to go ahead with the flight, while monitoring the improving weather conditions. The weather conditions continued to improve during the tow up to 12,000 feet pressure altitude where the glider was released from the tow airplane. He stated that his tow airplane pilot remarked that there was a scattered layer forming to the east and north of the airport. The pilot continued the flight until he noticed the scattered layer was getting thicker and elected to return to the airport and land. When he realized the scattered layer was beginning to form over the airport, he began a maximum rate descent. As he approached the top of the scattered layer at 3,000 feet, the glider's canopy fogged completely over almost instantly. The pilot's only view outside the glider was through a two inch by two inch vent window. At 700 feet AGL he realized he was not going to make the airport so he elected to land in a field. The glider touched down wings level and rolled out about 40 feet before hitting several tree stumps.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.