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19990501004231A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Cessna 305A · Hilltown, PA · May 1, 1999

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 1, 1999 · 13:34 local
Place
Hilltown, PA
Airport
Philadelphia Gliderport
Phase of flight
Climb
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision
Midair collision, first aircraft
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N5171G
NTSB investigation
NTSBIAD99FA041
Reported as
Cessna 305A
Reported engine
Continental O47011B
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
1
Pilot’s flight hours
2,300 total
N5171GRegistration cancelled Apr 21, 2005 · Cessna 305AS/N 23222 · Built 1951Airframe modelCessna 305AEngine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Cessna C-305 acft collided in mid-air with N47938, a grob G-103 glider, N5171G was destroyed and the pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries, N47938 was also destroyed and the 2 POB suffered fatal injuries, other circumstances are unknown. Reference N47938 for complete remark from NTSB form .19.(.4)the Cessna was in an approximate 10 degree right bank climbing turn, towing a glider. As the Cessna reached approximately 1,000 feet; the pilot (witness) of the glider being towed saw another glider, a grob, approaching from his 11:00 position. The grob was in an approximate 15 degree right bank descending turn. The pilot being towed believed that the Cessna and grob were on a collision course, and he released from the tow airplane. He saw the two aircraft collide, and the Cessna spin to the ground. He did not see the grob after impact, but saw fluttering debris. Both the Cessna and grob were equipped with communication radios. (-23)this accident involved a mid-air collision between a Cessna 305 (5171G) towing a glider and a second glider, a grob 103 (N47938) that was returning to the field. The pilot of N5171G was killed and an instructor and priv ate pilot onboard N47938 were also killed. No injuries on the ground and there was minor ground damage.

As the FAA filed it

CESSNA C-305 ACFT COLLIDED IN MID-AIR WITH N47938, A GROB G-103 GLIDER, N5171G WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT/SOLE OCCUPANT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES, N47938 WAS ALSO DESTROYED AND THE 2 POB SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. REFERENCE N47938 FOR COMPLETE REMARK FROM NTSB FORM .19.(.4)THE CESSNA WAS IN AN APPROXIMATE 10 DEGREE RIGHT BANK CLIMBING TURN, TOWING A GLIDER. AS THE CESSNA REACHED APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET; THE PILOT (WITNESS) OF THE GLIDER BEING TOWED SAW ANOTHER GLIDER, A GROB, APPROACHING FROM HIS 11:00 POSITION. THE GROB WAS IN AN APPROXIMATE 15 DEGREE RIGHT BANK DESCENDING TURN. THE PILOT BEING TOWED BELIEVED THAT THE CESSNA AND GROB WERE ON A COLLISION COURSE, AND HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW AIRPLANE. HE SAW THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDE, AND THE CESSNA SPIN TO THE GROUND. HE DID NOT SEE THE GROB AFTER IMPACT, BUT SAW FLUTTERING DEBRIS. BOTH THE CESSNA AND GROB WERE EQUIPPED WITH COMMUNICATION RADIOS. (-23)THIS ACCIDENT INVOLVED A MID-AIR COLLISION BETWEEN A CESSNA 305 (5171G) TOWING A GLIDER AND A SECOND GLIDER, A GROB 103 (N47938) THAT WAS RETURNING TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT OF N5171G WAS KILLED AND AN INSTRUCTOR AND PRIV ATE PILOT ONBOARD N47938 WERE ALSO KILLED. NO INJURIES ON THE GROUND AND THERE WAS MINOR GROUND DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD99FA041Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportHilltown, PAThe inadequate lookout of both pilots, and the pilot of the other aircraft.May 1, 1999 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed

Other aircraft in the event · 1

Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.

N47938Grob G103ATWINIIAccident 19990501004232A · Destroyed · 2 fatal

Other reports on N5171G · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19860118002469AForced/Precautionary Landing · Hilltown, PAEngine quit on a glider tow at 200 feet. Returned,made hard landing collapsing gear. Water in fuel on prior flightsJan 18, 1986 · Reported as Cessna STC305 · Substantial damage