# NTSB NYC90DGT01: Calvart HP-18, N78PR, York Springs, PA, August 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: August 15, 1990, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: York Springs, PA
- Coordinates: 39.999549, -77.110168 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9995&lon=-77.1102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90DGT01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36496/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90DGT01

## Probable cause

THE GLIDER PILOT'S MISJUDGED APPROACH TO LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE GLIDER OVERSHOOTING THE LANDING FIELD AND IMPACTING TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - planned approach - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MISJUDGED HIS APPROACH AND OVERSHOT THE LANDING FIELD. THE GLIDER STRUCK TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78PR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78PR-1990-10-19), registration cancelled 1990-10-19, S/N 1845 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CALVART HP-18
- Registry model: [Calvert HP-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/calvert-hp-18) (registry code 05647X6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 18-045
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald Cunningham
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 17, 1990, 5 hours before
- Departed: FAIRFIELD, PA
- Destination: FAIRFIELD, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; medical: unknown; flight hours: 155 total, 2 in this make and model, 130 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °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 19900815033069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900815033069A), Aug 15, 1990: Amtr HP18, York Springs, PA, Substantial damage. Encountered downdrafts returning to gliderport. Overshot off airstrip landing in open field and crashed in trees.

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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