# Accident 19991128032059A: Schemp DISCUSA, Palmerton, PA, November 28, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 28, 1999, 16:40 local time
- Place: Palmerton, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8009° N, 75.6092° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8009&lon=-75.6092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N117TB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N117TB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A (registry code 38019VP, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMP DISCUSA
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,735 total, 1,115 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991128032059A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON NOVEMBER 28, 1999, ABOUT 1640 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A SCHEMPP-HIRTH DISCUS A GLIDER, N117TB, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR PALMERTON, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE GLIDER PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR, THE PILOT DEPARTED THE BELTZVILLE AIRPORT, BELTZVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, UNDER TOW, FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT.  WHILE RIDGE SOARING, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DELAY HIS LANDING BACK TO THE AIRPORT.  THE SUN BECAME LOW ON THE HORIZON, AND THE GLIDER BEGAN TO LOOSE LIFT.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY THE GLIDER CLOSE TO A RIDGELINE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN LIFT, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE RIDGELINE DUE TO A GLARE THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN.  THE GLIDER BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A PARKING LOT.  APPROACHING THE PARKING LOT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE, SPINNING THE GLIDER TO THE LEFT.  THE GLIDER THEN NOSED INTO THE GROUND, COMING TO REST UPRIGHT. THE SUN SET BELOW THE HORIZON AT 1637. THE WINDS REPORTED AT AN AIRPORT 12 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST WERE FROM  280 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. (.4)WHILE RIDGE SOARING, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DELAY HIS LANDING BACK TO THE AIRPORT.  THE SUN BECAME LOW ON THE HORIZON, AND THE GLIDER BEGAN TO LOOSE LIFT.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY THE GLIDER CLOSE TO A RIDGELINE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN LIFT, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE RIDGELINE DUE TO A GLARE THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN.  THE GLIDER BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A PARKING LOT.  THE SUN SET BELOW THE HORIZON AT 1637.    (-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED BELTZVILLE, PA (14N), AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1440 EST. HE WAS RIDGE SOARING FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS.  THE SUN WAS SETTING.  THE PILOT STARTED LOSING LIFT AND WAS EXPERIENCING SUN GLARE. HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AT THE OLD PALMERTON ZINC CO.(WEST PLANT).  AT ABOUT FIVE TO TEN FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING CLIPPED A SMALL TREE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN TO THE LEFT APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## 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 NYC00LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA042), Nov 28, 1999: Schempp-Hirth Discus A (N117TB), Palmerton, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to delay his landing. A factor related to the accident was the loss of thermal lift.

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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