# Accident 20090531012509A: Abspor LAK17A, Middletown, NY, May 31, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 2009, 15:00 local time
- Place: Middletown, NY
- Airport: Randall
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7219° N, 74.6544° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7219&lon=-74.6544&mi=10
- Aircraft: N391BA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N391BA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A (registry code 056080H, https://openairdocs.org/model/ab-sportine-aviacija-lak-17a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ABSPOR LAK17A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 402 total, 41 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09CA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA320) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090531012509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) MR. WARSHAW'S GLIDER WAS TOWED INTO THE AIR FROM BLAIRSTOWN AIRPORT (1N7).  HE GLIDED TOWARD HIS HOME BASE RANDALL AIRPORT (06N) 38.9 NM TO THE NORTH EAST.  THUNDERSTORMS HAD MOVED BETWEEN HIS LOCATION AND (1N7) AND HE DECIDED TO LAND AT (06N).  BASED ON MR. WARSHAW'S STATEMENTS MODERATE TURBULANCE EXISTED AND HE PLANNED HIS PATTERN BADLY, GOT TOO SLOW AND STALLED THE GLIDER 7' TO 8' ABOVE THE GROUND IMPACTING TAIL FIRST.  THE TAIL BROKE AWAY FROM THE FUSELAGE.  MR. WARSHAW WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH BACK INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO APPARENT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA09CA320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA320), May 31, 2009: AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A (N391BA), Middletown, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds, which resulted in a loss of adequate airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.

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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