Schleicher ASW-20C N6BF

Summary

On 9 May 2010 at about 16:44 local time, a Schleicher ASW-20C registered N6BF, operated by Dutka Leslie A, was involved in an accident near Unionville, Pennsylvania, 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.

Date

9 May 2010 at 16:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Unionville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.8836, -77.9044

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW-20C

Registration

N6BF

Category

Glider

Operator

Dutka Leslie A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unionville → Unionville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA260

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's lack of remedial action in response to a loss of altitude, which led to a forced landing in unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the glider pilot, the flight was intended as a local recreational flight. He planned to climb via thermals to get across a five-mile gap between ridges, but was unable to gain altitude. He then attempted to turn to a "spur" that was separate from the main ridge to gain lift, but while performing the maneuvers the glider continued to lose altitude in a downdraft. The glider subsequently impacted trees and came to rest inverted, seriously injuring the pilot. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the glider. He stated that, in retrospect, he should have released the 10 gallons of water ballast in each wing and deployed positive flaps. A weather observation taken 35 miles from the accident site, approximately at the time of the accident, recorded the wind from 301 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.