Schleicher ASW 28 N280E

Summary

On 17 June 2016 at about 23:40 local time, a Schleicher ASW 28 registered N280E was involved in an accident near Cuddybackville, New York, 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

17 June 2016 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Cuddybackville, New York, United States

Coordinates

41.4672, -74.5939

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW 28

Registration

N280E

Category

Glider

Year built

2001

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wurtsboro → Wurtsboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA342

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain the glide path required for landing in the off-field landing zone.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during a soaring competition, he found himself in an area of sink and proceeded to an open field that he had pre-selected, in the event that an off-field landing was warranted. He reported that he had a choice of two open fields, selected the field with the northeast to southwest orientation, overflew the field and noted that trees marked the northeast and southwest boundaries. He reported that he made his approach from the northeast, overshot the intended landing zone and impacted the trees that marked the southwest boundary. The glider sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The landing zone was about 800 feet long, from the northeast to the southwest boundary, and the trees were about 50 feet high. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the glider prior to impact that would have prevented normal flight operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.