# NTSB NYC85LA116: Centrair 101A, N4429W, Barre, MA, May 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1985, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Barre, MA
- Location: 42.4230° N, 72.1064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Barre, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4230&lon=-72.1064&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): 35867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA116

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND AND LANDED IN TREES. BY THE TIME THE PLT REALIZED HIS SITUATION IT WAS TOO LATE AND HIS WING TIP HIT A TREE TOP. THE ACFT CAMP TO REST IN TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4429W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4429W-2011-04-07), registration cancelled 2011-04-07, S/N 101 070, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CENTRAIR 101A
- Registry model: [Centrair 101](https://openairdocs.org/model/centrair-101) (registry code 1990101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: unknown 11 unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John Murray
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1985, 43 hours before
- Airport: Barre Hiller, runway 24, 3,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight instructor; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 30
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19850504016819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850504016819A), May 4, 1985: Mitchl 101MITCHL, Barre, MA, Destroyed. Wingtip struck a tree after encountering a severe sink rate on downwind and final.

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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