Plane Crash List

Ab Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A N391BA

31 May 2009 · Middletown, New York, United States · Serious injuries

Summary

On 31 May 2009 at about 19:00 local time, a Ab Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A registered N391BA was involved in an accident near Middletown, New York, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 19:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Middletown, New York, United States
Nearest airport
Randall Airport (06N)
Coordinates
41.7219, -74.6544
Aircraft
Ab Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A
Registration
N391BA
Category
Glider
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Blairstown → Blairstown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ERA09CA320

People

1 person was seriously injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 1 0 0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds, which resulted in a loss of adequate airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot described entering the traffic pattern to land on the grass adjacent to runway 26. The pilot reported that wind was out of the northwest at about 15 knots gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot said that “There was moderate turbulence on downwind which increased on base and final. The glider stalled about 8 feet above touchdown due to insufficient speed for the conditions and landed hard, breaking the tail boom… My speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions.” The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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