- Date
- January 18, 1986, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Hilltown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5171GCessna 305-L-19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860118002469A
- Case key
- 30291
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The Cessna was towing a glider when at an altitude of about 150 feet to about 200 feet, a decrease in RPM was experienced. The glider was detached from the aircraft, the nose was lowered and a left turn made while still over the gliderport. A rapid descent was made with wings leveled, as contact with the frozen ground was made. The right gear broke at the fuselage and the wing dropped as the aircraft skidded along the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5171G
- Reported as
- Cessna 305-L-19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 23222
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Philadelphia Glider Council
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Airport
- OPAO · Phila Gliderport, runway 27, 2,400 × 200 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 3,795 total · 3,276 in this make and model · 3,276 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5171G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.