# NTSB NYC98LA098: Masak Scimitar, N102PX, Hardscrabble, VA, April 25, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1998, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Hardscrabble, VA
- Coordinates: 38.409084, -79.579376 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4091&lon=-79.5794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39556/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA098

## Probable cause

The pilots encounter with an unexpected downdraft.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot was ridge soaring and encountered an unexpected down current from an upwind plateau causing him to execute an emergency landing to a field approximately 450 feet in length.  After touchdown the pilot ground looped the glider to avoid hitting a tree.

## Factual narrative

On April 25, 1998, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a MASAK Scimitar, N102PX, a home built glider, was substantially damaged during an off airport landing to a field near Hardscrabble, Virginia.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Ridge Soaring Glider Port, Julian, Pennsylvania, approximately 1220.  No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated, "I was ridge soaring the Appalachian Mountains and encountered some unexpected wave down wash from the upwind plateau."  The pilot also stated, he had to make an emergency landing in a very short field (400-500 feet), and ground loop the glider to avoid hitting a tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N102PX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MASAK SCIMITAR
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 120
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Peter C. Masak
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 1998, 2 hours before
- Departed: NONE, JULIAN, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 1,200 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SHD, 309 nm away

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.