- Date
- March 24, 1991, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Buchanan, VA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2451WSchweizer SGS 2-33
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910324007349A
- Case key
- 11664
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to attempt the takeoff with unfavorable winds.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The glider was being towed and during the takeoff climb the pilot released from the towplane. The pilot indicated he released because the towplane encountered a downdraft and he felt the glider would not clear the trees ahead. The glider pilot reported that after he released from the towplane, he turned right to avoid the trees; however, there was no suitable landing area and the glider collided with the trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2451W
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS 2-33
- Category
- Glider
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ridge & Valley Soaring Club
- Registered owner
- Ridge & Valley Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2000
- Airport
- Springwood Gliderport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 24 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ROA, 999 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2451W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.