# Accident 19970712018109A: Slnsby T65A, Bethel, PA, July 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 1997, 16:35 local time
- Place: Bethel, PA
- Airport: Grimes Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4500° N, 76.4204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4500&lon=-76.4204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N111XX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111XX-2002-08-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vickers-Slingsby T65A (registry code 9480104, https://openairdocs.org/model/vickers-slingsby-t65a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SLNSBY T65A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 248 total, 43 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970712018109A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

GLIDER MADE FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AFTER PILOT BECAME DEHYDRATED AND DISORIENTED. (.4) ON JULY 12, 1997, ABOUT 1635 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A VICKERS-SLINGSBY T65A GLIDER, N111XX, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A HARD LANDING AT GRIMES AIRFIELD (8N1), BETHEL, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT THAT DEPARTED PHILADELPHIA GLIDER COUNCIL AIRPORT (OPAO), PERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS OF FLIGHT, HE ELECTED TO LAND AT BETHEL DUE TO A LACK OF UP UT THE GEAR DOWN AND "AND BEGAN MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR LANDING. UPON REACHING PATTERN ALTITUDE...I FOUND MYSELF IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, IN WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN A SPIN." HE RECOVERED FROM THE MANEUVER, BUT LOST SIGNIFICANT ALTITUDE IN THE PROCESS. THE PILOT DEPLOYED THE SPOILERS TO LAND, AND HEARD A WARNING ALARM. THEN THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH FOR THE CANOPY TO SEPARATE. AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE PILOT EXITED THE GLIDER. IN A STATEMENT, THE PILOT WROTE THAT HE FELT "HEAT STRESS AND PHYSICAL            FATIGUE...FROM WORKING THERMALS AS CONDITIONS WEAKENED. EARLIER TERMINATION OF FLIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT."

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC97LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA145), Jul 12, 1997: Slingsby T65A (N111XX), Bethel, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare. A factor in the accident was the pilot's fatigue.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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