# NTSB BFO85LA034: Cirrus Standard Cirrus, N494BZ, Woodbine, MD, April 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1985, 15:59 local (20:59 UTC)
- Place: Woodbine, MD
- Coordinates: 39.32973, -77.060997 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3297&lon=-77.0610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11171
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11171/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85LA034

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB AT AN UNUSUALLY STEEP ATTITUDE. THEN AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL (APRX 50 ABOVE THE TOW PLANE), THE GLIDER RELEASED FROM THE TOW ROPE.ACCORDING TO ONE WITNESS, THE ACFT MAINTAINED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN, ROTATED TO THE LEFT & STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING & NOSE. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & COULD NOT RECALL DETAILS CONCERNING THE FLT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE MAJORITY OF THE PLT'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WAS IN A GROB SAILPLANE WHICH HAD DIFFERENT HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. DURING TAKEOFF IN THE STANDARD CIRRUS, ITS NOSE WOULD CHARACTERISTICALLY RISE BY ITSELF. HOWEVER, IN THE GROB, THE PLT SHOULD APPLY BACK PRESSURE ON THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TO ACHIEVE A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PLT HAD NOT FLOWN THE STANDARD CIRRUS IN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pull-up - inadvertent
  - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - habit interference, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: N494BZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cirrus STANDARD CIRRUS (STANDARD C)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 262
- Airframe hours: 95
- Engines: unknown UNK unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jerry Gaudet, Judy Garland
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1985
- Airport: MC78, Woodbine Drop Zone, runway 21, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 232 total, 52 in this make and model, 212 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DCA, 32 nm away

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.