# NTSB NYC94LA173: Schleicher ASW15B, N827, Dansville, NY, September 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 1994, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Dansville, NY - Coordinates: 42.559009, -77.689804 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5590&lon=-77.6898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA173 ## Probable cause THE PILOT ALLOWED THE SPEED OF THE GLIDER TO GET TO LOW ON FINAL APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN A RAPID DESCENT, SUBSEQUENT UNDERSHOOT OF THE RUNWAY, AND IMPACT WITH A TREE. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS A DOWNDRAFT CONDITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXTEND THE DOWNWIND LEG DUE TO POWERED AIRCRAFT TRAFFIC AHEAD ON THE APPROACH. THE POWERED AIRCRAFT SAW THE GLIDER AND DISCONTINUED THE APPROACH, ALLOWING THE GLIDER A CLEAR PATH TO THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER PILOT ELECTED NOT TO EMPLOY SPOILERS BECAUSE THE DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY WAS TOO FAR. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT 'WITHIN SECONDS MY ALTITUDE AND SPEED WAS REDUCED.' HE REACTED BY PUSHING FORWARD ON THE CONTROL STICK, TO GAIN SPEED, BUT THE GLIDER DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT WROTE HE 'WAS BEING FORCED DOWN FROM ABOVE AT A RAPID RATE' CAUSING HIM TO BELIEVE HE WAS IN A 'VIOLENT' DOWN DRAFT. THE GLIDER STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING ABOUT 400 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 1994, at 1315 eastern daylight time, a ASW-15 (Glider), N827, registered to and piloted by William L. Christie, sustained substantial damage at Dansville Airport, Dansville, New York. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he elected to extend the downwind leg due to powered aircraft traffic ahead of him on the approach. When the pilot turn from base to final he saw another powered airplane ahead and lower. The powered airplane saw the glider and discontinued his approach. The glider pilot wrote: ...next I looked at approach and decided not to employ spoilers as the distance was too far. Within seconds my altitude an speed was reduced, I reacted by pushing forward on [the] control stick to gain speed. The sailplane did not respond...I was being forced down from above at a rapid rate...I thought [this] was a violent down draft.... The glider struck a tree with the left wing about 400 feet short of runway 30. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N827](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N827), registered now, S/N 15282, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schleicher ASW15B - Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-15B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-15b) (registry code 38015H2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Airframe hours: 948 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Finn & William Christie - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 1994, 10 hours before - Airport: DSV, Dansville, runway 32, 3,655 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,187 total, 12 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °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 19940910043369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940910043369A), Sep 10, 1994: Schler ASW15B, Dansville, NY, Substantial damage. Extended pattern for powered traffic. Encountered downdraft on final. Wing struck a tree 400FEET short of runway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.