# NTSB NYC83LA179: Sportavia-Putzer RF5B Sperber, N55WV, Warren, VT, July 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1983, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Warren, VT
- Location: 44.1120° N, 72.8559° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Warren, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1120&lon=-72.8559&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35231/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA179

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE GLIDER WING ENCOUNTERED HIGH GRASS DURING LANDING IN GUSTY WIND. THIS WAS A MOTOR GLIDER AND THE LANDING WAS MADE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY TO ALLOW ROOM FOR THE SOARING CLUB LANDING ON A PARALLEL GRASS STRIP TO THE LEFT OF THE MAIN RWY. DURING THE APPROACH A GUST OF WIND RAISED THE LEFT WING OF THE MOTOR GLIDER AND THE RIGHT WING CAUGHT IN SOME TALL GRASS BESIDE THE RWY. THE ACFT TURNED ABOUT 90 DEGREES AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE WINGS AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55WV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55WV-1990-05-22), registration cancelled 1990-05-22, S/N 51032 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Sportavia-Putzer RF5B SPERBER (RF5B SPERB)
- Registry model: [Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER](https://openairdocs.org/model/sportavia-putzer-rf5b-sperber) (registry code 8451016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: Limbach 1700 CC reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Orth
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1983, 5 hours before
- Departed: RUT, RUTLAND, VT
- Destination: OB7, WARREN, VT
- Airport: OB7, Warren/Sugarbush, runway 4, 2,650 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 1,650 total, 101 in this make and model, 1,548 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °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 19830716032999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830716032999A), Jul 16, 1983: Sptpuz RF5B, Warren, VT, Substantial damage. Crosswind exceeded aircraft limitations. Wing raised and caught vegetation causing glider to rotate damaging wing.

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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