# NTSB IAD96LA083: Lithuanian Factory of LAK-12, N112LK, Woodbine, MD, May 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 1996, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Woodbine, MD - Coordinates: 39.330829, -77.059745 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3308&lon=-77.0597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28055/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to fly with inadequate research of forecast weather. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot stated that his weather information was what he had heard on a weather radio in the local area. When he took off there were strong winds with scattered to broken cumulus clouds in the area. Fifteen minutes after being released by the tow airplane, he noticed the 'black wall' of the cold front quickly approaching from the west. He started an immediate descent toward the field. During his approach to the field, he encountered severe turbulence and in order to avoid an extreme crosswind landing, he decided to land diagonally across the runway into the wind. Shortly before touchdown, the pilot encountered a sudden and severe down draft causing his head to hit and break the plexiglass canopy. The glider's right wing tip then hit the ground and the glider did a 360-degree 'ground-loop'. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 1996, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Lithuanian Sport Factory of Aviation, LAK-12 glider, N112LK, impacted the runway while attempting to land during gusty wind conditions at Woodbine Gliderport, in Woodbine, Maryland. The glider was released from the tow line at approximately 1515. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was unharmed and the glider sustained substantial damage. No flight plan had been filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot indicated that he obtained his weather information from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio in Sterling, Virginia. The pilot stated that when he took off (Aero-tow), there were strong winds from the south with scattered to broken cumulus clouds. The pilot stated that he was released by the tow airplane at 4200 feet MSL. About 15 minutes later, the pilot stated that he became aware of the cold front (black wall) fast approaching from the west and he started an immediate descent towards the field. During his approach to the field, the pilot stated that he encountered severe turbulence and that the winds were coming from approximately 270 degrees. The runway is oriented 03/21 degrees and is 1600 feet long by 100 feet wide. In order to avoid an extreme cross wind landing, the pilot stated that he decided to land diagonally across the runway into the wind. Shortly before touchdown at approximately 12-15 feet above the ground, the pilot stated that he encountered a sudden and severe down draft causing his head to hit and break the plexiglass canopy. The pilot stated that the glider's right wing tip then hit the ground, and the glider did a 360 degree "ground-loop" causing the damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112LK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N112LK), registered now, S/N 6220 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lithuanian Factory of Aviation LAK-12 - Registry model: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/lithuanian-factory-of-lak-12) (registry code 1130839) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 6220 - Airframe hours: 54 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Urs Thierstein/Steve Cruise - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1995, 20 hours before - Airport: PVT, Woodbine Gliderport, runway 3, 1,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 407 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 30 knots, gusting 43 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19960511046599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960511046599A), May 11, 1996: Lak LAK12, Woodbine, MD, Substantial damage. Pilot ground looped the glider while attempting a cross-wind landing, resulting in substantial damage to the Lak-12 aircraft. 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.