# NTSB NYC02LA193: I.C.A. Brasov IS-28-B2, N8216Q, Blairstown, NJ, September 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 2002, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Blairstown, NJ - Coordinates: 41.016666, -75.033332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0167&lon=-75.0333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Admininstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55740 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55740/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA193 ## Probable cause The second pilot's improper in-flight decision to perform a release from the towplane, which did not allow for successful completion of the flight. A factor was the downdrafts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - glider/tow release - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause) - Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) ## Analysis Two pilots were onboard a glider being towed to a release point. Prior to departure, they had agreed that the PIC who occupied the rear seat would handle the glider under tow, and the landing at their departure airport. The front seat pilot would handle the glider during free flight. According to the PIC, the 2nd pilot performed an uncommanded release of the glider from the towplane, about 500 feet AGL, and then would not turn the glider in the direction the PIC requested. The glider encountered descending air, and settled into trees. The second pilot reported the PIC ordered him to release the glider from tow, after which the glider encountered descend air, and settled into the trees. The ridge being used for lift was orientated northeast, southwest. The winds at a nearby airport were variable from the northwest to east, at 12 knot, with gusts to 16 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2002, about 1500 eastern daylight time, an I.C.A. Brasov IS-28-B2 glider, N8216Q, was substantially damaged when it struck trees during an off airport landing, after it encountered descending air near Blairstown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot who was the pilot-in-command was not injured. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed Blairstown Airport (1N7). No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot-in-command (PIC) occupied the rear seat and was a member of the local glider club. The second pilot was an associate member of the club and occupied the front seat. The second pilot was trying to obtain full club membership, and needed to fly with additional members prior to being voted into the club. The flight departed with the agreement that the PIC would handle the controls during the tow to altitude, and then perform the landing upon return to Blairstown. The second pilot would handle the flight controls during free flight over the ridges. The second pilot stated: :"...It was [a] local glider training fight using ridge at Blairstown airport. Tow plane took us to this ridge at 14:40. On the upside of the ridge after entering the updraft,...[the PIC] called for release. Altitude 2,500 [feet] msl. However, after release, there was no lift. The ridge was not working. Since the altitude was safe to get us back to the Blairstown Airport, we started to go there. While overlying the flat part of the ridge, we entered strong downdraft which reduced abruptly our altitude and forced us to land on the trees." In the diagram that accompanied the second pilot's statement, he depicted the release at 2,500 feet on the northwest side of a ridge that was 1.600 feet high, and was orientated northeast/southwest. The wind was from the northwest, blowing southeast. The accident site was depicted to be on the southeast side of the ridge line. The PIC reported that he preflighted the glider and told the second pilot that they would take a tow to 3,000 feet agl, (3,372 msl). The PIC further stated: "We departed Runway 25 at Blairstown at approximately 1450 local. Upon leaving the airport traffic area, the tow plane made a right turn to a west-north-west heading towards the Kittatinny Ridge. We crossed the eastern slope of the ridge and proceeded between the Upper Yards Creek Reservoir and Sunfish Pond. It was at this position, and without any warning whatsoever that...[the second pilot] released us from the tow plane. Because...[the second pilot] was leaning to the right during the tow, I also had a clear view of the tow release handle, and the altimeter, both of which were located on the left side of the panel in the front cockpit. I saw...[the second pilot] release, and noted that the altimeter read 2,000 ft. msl (approximately 500 feet agl in this position). [the second pilot]...took forcible command of the aircraft and made a right turn to a northerly heading. We then encountered sink of 500 fpm down. I told him to turn left to the upwind northwesterly side of the ridge because of its close proximity to us, and the possibility of finding a thermal, or good air. (No sink). If we did not find a thermal or good air the Delaware River Valley terrain is approximately 1,000 ft below ridge height, and contains open field suitable to affect a safe landing...[the second pilot] said no. He insisted that we return to the airport, and that he could make it. He continued his right turn to an easterly heading during which we encountered heavy sink. The variometer pegged full down. The time from tow release to impact was less than two minutes, to the best of my recollection...." The 1454 weather observation from Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey, which was located 12 nm east of Blairstown, included winds from 020 degrees, at 12 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. The wind were variable from 340 degrees to 100 degrees. According to records from the FAA, both pilots held airline transport pilot ratings, and flight instructor ratings for airplanes. Neither pilot held a glider flight instructor rating. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8216Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8216Q-2005-07-25), registration cancelled 2005-07-25, S/N 360, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: I.C.A. Brasov IS-28-B2 - Registry model: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/i-c-a-brasov-is-28b2) (registry code 4490102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 360 - Airframe hours: 434 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aero Club Albatross Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2002, 70 hours before - Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ - Destination: 1N7 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 10, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 17,940 total, 20 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 15, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 11,912 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 12N, 13 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 20020912037599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020912037599A), Sep 12, 2002: Brasov IS28B2, Blairstown, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot in the rear seat stated that the front seat pilot released the aircraft from tow extremely early, at about 500 feet above the ridge line, and… 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.