# NTSB NYC99LA008: WSK PZL Krosno KR-03A, N408KP, Hilltown, PA, October 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 11, 1998, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Hilltown, PA - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44176/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of altitude/distance which resulted in an in-flight collision which trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - weather condition - crosswind - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with object, approach ## Analysis The glider was in the traffic pattern for runway 1, a 2,450 foot long, turf runway. While on downwind, at about 2,000 feet above ground level, the pilot turned the glider back towards the runway. The pilot stated, '...I expected to make the field and was committed to that course. I flew into the trees, was stopped, and slid vertically down onto a pile of wood.' Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities with the glider. Winds reported about 9 miles southeast of the airport at 1455 edt, were from 320 degrees at 11 knots, with 15 knot gusts. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 1998, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a WSK PZL Krosno, KR-03A glider, N408KP, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees while landing at the Philadelphia Gliderport (0PA0), Hilltown, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that departed 0PA0, about 1230. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The glider was in the traffic pattern for runway 1, a 2,450 foot long, turf runway. In a written statement, the pilot said: "...I was downwind [southwest] of runway. I started back at about 2,000 feet. I knew I was bucking a headwind so set speed about 60-65 knots and headed directly for the runway....I expected to make the field and was committed to that course. I flew into the trees, was stopped, and slid vertically down onto a pile of wood." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities with the glider. The pilot reported 115 hours of total flight experience, all in gliders, of which about 15 hours were in the make and model of the accident glider. Winds reported at an airport about 9 miles southeast of 0PA0, at 1455, were from 320 degrees at 11 knots, with 15 knot gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N408KP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N408KP), registered now, S/N 0408KP, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK PZL KROSNO KR-03A - Registry model: [WSK Pzl-Krosno KR-03A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-krosno-kr-03a) (registry code 1130847) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 0408KP - Airframe hours: 265 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Philadelphia Glider Council - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1998, 138 hours before - Departed: 0PA0 - Airport: 0PA0, Philadelphia Gliderport, runway 1, 2,450 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; private; seat: front; flight hours: 115 total, 15 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: NXX, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19981011035129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981011035129A), Oct 11, 1998: Trnsqp KR03A, Hilltown, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft drifted too FAR downwind when returning to airport and landed short and crashed into trees. Aircraft received substantial damage. The pilot was not… 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.