Summary
On May 31, 2009, a Ab Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A (N391BA) was involved in an accident near Middletown, NY. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds, which resulted in a loss of adequate airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
The pilot described entering the traffic pattern to land on the grass, which was adjacent to runway 26. The wind was out of the northwest at about 15 knots gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot said “There was moderate turbulence on downwind which increased on base and final. The glider stalled about 8 feet above touchdown due to insufficient speed for the conditions and landed hard, breaking the tail boom… My speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions.” The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the glider.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA09CA320. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N391BA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds, which resulted in a loss of adequate airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot described entering the traffic pattern to land on the grass, which was adjacent to runway 26. The wind was out of the northwest at about 15 knots gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot said “There was moderate turbulence on downwind which increased on base and final. The glider stalled about 8 feet above touchdown due to insufficient speed for the conditions and landed hard, breaking the tail boom… My speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions.” The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the glider.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA09CA320