# NTSB ERA09CA320: AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A, N391BA, Middletown, NY, May 31, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2009, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Middletown, NY
- Coordinates: 41.721942, -74.654441
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7219&lon=-74.6544&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73961
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA320
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73961/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73961
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA320

## 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.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056080H), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056080H), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056080H), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056080H), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056080H), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot described entering the traffic pattern to land on the grass adjacent to runway 26. The pilot reported that wind was out of the northwest at about 15 knots gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot said that “There was moderate turbulence on downwind which increased on base and final. The glider stalled about 8 feet above touchdown due to insufficient speed for the conditions and landed hard, breaking the tail boom… My speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions.” The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the glider.

## Factual narrative

The pilot described entering the traffic pattern to land on the grass, which was adjacent to runway 26. The wind was out of the northwest at about 15 knots gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot said “There was moderate turbulence on downwind which increased on base and final. The glider stalled about 8 feet above touchdown due to insufficient speed for the conditions and landed hard, breaking the tail boom… My speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions.” The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N391BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N391BA), registered now, S/N 120, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AB SPORTINE AVIACIJA LAK-17A
- Registry model: [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ab-sportine-aviacija-lak-17a) (registry code 056080H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 120
- Airframe hours: 42
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2008, 42 hours before
- Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ
- Destination: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ
- Airport: 06N, Randall Airport, runway 26, 2,810 × 60 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; last flight review March 30, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 402 total, 41 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: KMGJ, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090531012509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090531012509A), May 31, 2009: Abspor LAK17A, Middletown, NY, Substantial damage. (-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…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73961. 438 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather - KMGJ (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20-%20KMGJ-Master.PDF

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.

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