20160321002079A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 · Pine Grove, PA · March 21, 2016

Date: March 21, 2016 · 11:20 local
Place: Pine Grove, PA
Airport: N/A
Phase of flight: Other, Specify
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N16BP
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA16CA156
Reported as: Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18
Reported engine: N/A N/A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 917 total463 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N16BPRegistration cancelled Oct 27, 2016 · Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18S/N 8334 · Built 2000 Airframe modelRolladen-Schneider LS8-18 Engine modelNONENone

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.

The PIC was ridge/slope soaring on a crosscountry flight. Wind was 15 to 20 knots prevailing from the west/northwest.

The PIC was flying upwind of the ridge heading south/southwest following the ridge when he lost lift.

The PIC attempted a off airport landing (grass field). The PIC reported he encountered gusty downdrafts on short final. The PIC landed short of his intended landing point in the trees.

As the FAA filed it

THE PIC WAS RIDGE/SLOPE SOARING ON A CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT. WIND WAS 15 TO 20 KNOTS PREVAILING FROM THE WEST/NORTHWEST.

THE PIC WAS FLYING UPWIND OF THE RIDGE HEADING SOUTH/SOUTHWEST FOLLOWING THE RIDGE WHEN HE LOST LIFT.

THE PIC ATTEMPTED A OFF AIRPORT LANDING (GRASS FIELD). THE PIC REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED GUSTY DOWNDRAFTS ON SHORT FINAL. THE PIC LANDED SHORT OF HIS INTENDED LANDING POINT IN THE TREES.

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 GAA16CA156Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPine Grove, PAThe pilot's inability to maintain the glider's descent rate and glide path after encountering a downdraft, resulting in a collision with trees during an off airport landing.Mar 21, 2016 · Substantial damage