- Date
- May 20, 2021, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sterling, MA · Trees off end of runway 16
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N65317Pilatus B4-PC11
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA / FSDO
- FAA report
- 20210520009579A
- Case key
- 103328
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 misjudged approach angle which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
Findings · 3
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
The pilot reported that once on final approach for the runway, he miscalculated his approach angle and found the glider low on altitude and airspeed. The glider then struck trees on the edge of the airport and impacted on the airport surface resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65317
- Reported as
- Pilatus B4-PC11
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 190
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 3,589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Greater Boston Soaring Club Inc
- Registered owner
- Greater Boston Soaring Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 2021
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- 3B3 · Sterling, runway 16, 3,086 × 40 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Data recorder
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
- 62
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 12, 2021
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 250 total · 2 in this make and model · 150 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.44 inHg
- Observed at
- KFIT, 8 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB 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.