- Date
- July 8, 1999, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Erwinna, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N20RKPilatus B-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990708008679A
- Case key
- 46964
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-in-command's failure to maintain aircraft control.
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
The pilot flew a left traffic pattern to Runway 23. On short final approach, approximately 100 feet from the runway threshold, a gust of wind forced the glider to the left, into trees. At an airport approximately 17 miles away, at 1551, the reported winds were from 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 19 knots, an varying from 250 to 320 degrees.
Factual narrative
On July 8, 1999, about 1530 Eastern Daylight Time, a Pilatus B-4 glider, N20RK, was substantially damaged while landing at Vansant Airport (9N1), Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he flew a left traffic pattern to Runway 23 at 9N1. On short final approach, approximately 100 feet from the runway threshold, a gust of wind forced the glider to the left, into trees. When asked about other available runways, the pilot stated that the other runways are reserved for "motorized" traffic. He further stated that although he did not obtain a full weather briefing, he did telephone a recorded weather forecast system, provided by the National Weather Service.
At an airport approximately 17 miles away, at 1551, the reported winds were from 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 19 knots, and varying from 250 to 320 degrees.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, and a representative from Pilatus, there was no maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the accident glider. Examination of the wreckage by the inspector revealed no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N20RK
- Reported as
- Pilatus B-4
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 249
- Airframe hours
- 187
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard J. Kearney
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 24, 1999 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- 9N1
- Airport
- 9N1 · Vansant Airport, runway 23, 1,340 × 200 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 1,223 total · 177 in this make and model · 1,057 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABE, 140 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.