# NTSB NYC06CA083: Schleicher ASW-19B, N439AS, Blairstown, NJ, March 18, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2006, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Blairstown, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.978332, -74.960378
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9783&lon=-74.9604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63395/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA083

## Probable cause

A loss of lift, which resulted in a forced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - weather condition - no thermal lift
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

After about 1.5 hours of ridgeline flying, and during the outbound leg from the departure airport, the glider approached a valley.  According to the pilot, "the ridge lift in this area dissipated rapidly due to a shift in wind direction."  Due to the loss in lift, the pilot circled over a field and set up a downwind, base, and final approach for a landing.  While on the "short final" leg of the approach, the pilot noticed an obstacle, elected to climb over it, and to land as quickly as possible on the opposite side.  During the rollout, the pilot attempted to maneuver the glider between two trees; however, both wingtips impacted the trees, and the glider was substantially damaged.

## Factual narrative

After about 1.5 hours of ridgeline flying, and during the outbound leg from the departure airport, the glider approached a valley.  According to the pilot, "the ridge lift in this area dissipated rapidly due to a shift in wind direction."  Due to the loss in lift, the pilot circled over a field and set up a downwind, base, and final approach for a landing.  While on the "short final" leg of the approach, the pilot noticed an obstacle, elected to climb over it, and to land as quickly as possible on the opposite side.  During the rollout, the pilot attempted to maneuver the glider between two trees; however, both wingtips impacted the trees, and the glider was substantially damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N439AS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N439AS), registered now, S/N 19231 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW-19B
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-19](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-19) (registry code 3801508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 19231
- Airframe hours: 901
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Jay Snyder
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005
- Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ
- Destination: 1N7
- Airport: 1N7, Blairstown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 148 total, 7 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 9 °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 20060318003389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060318003389A), Mar 18, 2006: Schler ASW19, Blue Mountain, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was gliding over Blue Mountain ridge. He lost lift and decided to put the glider down into a field below. As he approached for landing, at the last…

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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