- Date
- December 11, 2010, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Aberdeen, MD
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N91896Schweizer SGS 1-23D
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20101211052949A
- Case key
- 77992
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 loss of control during an intentional aerobatic maneuver (spin) resulting in a collision with trees.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, on his second flight of the day, he initiated a spin to the right around 3,200 feet. After approximately three-quarters of a turn, he attempted to recover from the spin by applying left rudder. He felt no resistance upon application of the rudder and the glider felt unresponsive. As he neared the ground, the pilot was able to maneuver toward trees. The glider impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The glider remained in the tree for several days due to snow and ice storms before it could be recovered. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the rudder turnbuckles were set per the maintenance manual and the rudder return springs were intact and not stretched. The rudder controls functioned properly when manipulated.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the glider, on his second flight of the day, he initiated a spin to the right around 3,200 feet. After approximately three-quarters of a turn, the pilot attempted to recover from the spin by applying left rudder. The pilot stated that he felt no resistance upon application of the rudder, and that the glider was unresponsive. As he neared the ground, the pilot was able to maneuver toward trees. The glider impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The glider remained in the tree for several days due to snow and ice storms before it could be recovered. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the rudder turnbuckles were set per the manual and the rudder return springs were intact and not stretched. The rudder controls functioned properly when manipulated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91896
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS 1-23D
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 28
- Airframe hours
- 1,117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Atlantic Soaring Club Inc
- Registered owner
- Atlantic Soaring Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 2010
- Departed
- 0W3 · Aberdeen, MD
- Destination
- 0W3 · Aberdeen, MD
- Airport
- 0W3 · Harford County Airport
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
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Last flight review
- May 15, 2010
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- MTN, 18 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 538 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.