# Accident 20210520009579A: Pilatus B4-PC11, Sterling, MA, May 20, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2021, 16:00 local time
- Place: Sterling, MA
- Airport: Sterling
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4259° N, 71.7929° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4259&lon=-71.7929&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65317, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65317) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pilatus B4-PC11 (registry code 7090104, https://openairdocs.org/model/pilatus-b4-pc11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PILATUS B4-PC11
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 2 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210520009579A

## Narrative

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

N65317, PILATUS B4-P11, SINGLE SEAT GLIDER PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STRUCK TREES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 16 AT K3B3 STERLING AIRPORT APROXIMATLY 1600 LOCAL ON MAY 20, 2021.  PILOT SUSTAIND ONLY MINOR SCRATCHES.

## 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 ERA21LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA266), May 20, 2021: Pilatus B4-PC11 (N65317), Sterling, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s misjudged approach angle which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.

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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