- Date
- April 5, 1992, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Julian, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N224WTSchempp-Hirth Discus BT
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920405008749A
- Case key
- 37032
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 pilot's inadvertent use of the speed brakes, which resulted in an excessive rate of descent. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight.
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
Witnesses noticed the speed brakes were deployed, while the glider was being towed during takeoff and climb. Attempts to radio the pilot and alert him of the speed brake position were unsuccessful. The glider was released at 2900 feet, and it descended with the speed brakes still deployed. The pilot tried to return and land, but did not reach the gliderport. Subsequently, the glider struck a tree and was damaged as the pilot was making an off gliderport landing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N224WT
- Reported as
- Schempp-Hirth Discus BT
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 65
- Engine
- Kleinmotoren SOLO 2350, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pioti Turosienski
- Registered owner
- Pioti Turosienski
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 79N · Unionville, PA
- Destination
- 79N
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 176 total · 9 in this make and model · 170 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 10 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UNV, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.