- Date
- September 1, 1991, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lockport, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N55SMSportavia-Putzer RF5B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 37005
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the glider during landing. A factor related to the accident was the turbulence encountered on approach.
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 powered glider was making a landing, when the pilot encountered turbulence and was unable to maintain directional control. He applied rudder and aileron correction, but the glider drifted off the runway and struck some trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55SM
- Reported as
- Sportavia-Putzer RF5B
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 51053
- Engine
- Limbach SL100E, 68 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald G. Hobel
- Registered owner
- Cambria Flying Club Inc.
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Airport
- 62NY · Lockport Cambria
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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total · 100 in this make and model · 1,200 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
Other investigations on N55SM · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.