# NTSB NYC08CA275: I.C.A.-Brasov IS-26B2, N4281B, Fincastle, VA, August 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Fincastle, VA - Coordinates: 37.490795, -79.869979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4908&lon=-79.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68676 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68676/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA275 ## Probable cause The pilot's geographic disorientation, which resulted in an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's selection of an inadequate landing site. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=4490102), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=4490102), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=4490102), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=4490102), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=4490102), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=4490102), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the I.C.A.-Brasov glider, he was towed to 4,000 feet and released southwest of the airport for a local flight. After release, the pilot attempted to orient himself geographically, but was unsuccessful. He typically operated north and east of the airport. According to the passenger, the pilot misidentified several landmarks, and the passenger attempted to correct him. The pilot eventually realized that he was no longer able to return to the airport of origin. He selected what he believed to be a suitable landing site, but after he turned onto the base leg of the approach, he saw that the field crop was corn instead of hay. At that point, the pilot was committed to landing, and there was no suitable alternate field within range. The glider settled into the corn, but then dropped suddenly to the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the I.C.A.-Brasov glider, he was towed to 4,000 feet, and released southwest of the airport for a local flight. After release, the pilot attempted to orient himself geographically, but was unsuccessful. He typically operated north and east of the airport. According to the passenger, the pilot misidentified several landmarks, and the passenger attempted to correct him. The pilot eventually realized that he was no longer able to return to the airport of origin. He selected what he believed to be a suitable landing site, but after he turned onto the base leg of the approach, he saw that the field crop was corn instead of hay. At that point, the pilot was committed to landing, and there was no suitable alternate field within range. The glider settled into the corn, but then dropped suddenly to the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported 21 hours of flight experience in gliders, with 15 hours as pilot in command. Subsequent to the accident, the operator provided its pilots with handheld global positioning system (GPS) units, and implemented several changes to its glider pilot initiation program, including identification of landmarks and geographic features, and identification and rating of off-field landing sites. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4281B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4281B), registered now, S/N 123, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: I.C.A.-Brasov IS-26B2 - Registry model: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/i-c-a-brasov-is-28b2) (registry code 4490102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 123 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Springwood Soaring Association - Registered owner: Springwood Soaring Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2008 - Departed: 08VA, Fincastle, VA - Destination: 08VA, Buchanan, VA - Airport: 08VA, Springwood Gliderport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 7,868 total, 18 in this make and model, 5,662 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 18 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 20080810849379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080810849379A), Aug 10, 2008: Brasov IS28B2, Botetourt Co, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted], as pilot in command of N4281B, an ica Brasov glider, became disoriented in relation to his departure field while attempting to… 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.