# NTSB NYC95LA215: Schleicher KA-8B, N1196, Mayville, NY, September 2, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1995, 14:14 local (18:14 UTC)
- Place: Mayville, NY
- Coordinates: 40.67929, -73.36972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6793&lon=-73.3697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39046
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39046/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA215

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate inflight planning, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - downdraft
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The glider pilot reported he was on approach when he encountered a very unusual sink or down air condition.  The aircraft descended and struck trees, about a quarter mile short of the runway.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 1995, at 1414 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher KA-8B, N1196, a glider, sustained substantial damage during impact with trees, while attempting to land at the Dart Airport, Mayville, New York.  The commercial pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated:

I left Dart Airport for a short personal flight....On      return to Dart Field, about 1/4 mile from approach end      of [runway] 6, got a very unusual sink of down air      condition and fell short of field.  Put glider in small      tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1196](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1196), registered now, S/N 8573, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER KA-8B
- Registry model: [Schleicher K 8 B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-k-8-b) (registry code 3801563) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 8573
- Airframe hours: 2223
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marion L. Keith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1995, 2 hours before
- Departed: D79, NY
- Airport: D79, Dart, runway 6, 1,840 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 82; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 4,026 total, 4,026 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19950902027869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950902027869A), Sep 2, 1995: Schler K8B, Mayville, NY, Substantial damage. Unusually strong sink rate on final. Landed glider in a tree 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.

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