Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morrisville, Vermont 05661
Friday, June 3, 1994 13:32 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE GLIDER PILOT REPORTED THAT HE AND THE TOW PILOT HAD DISCUSSED EARLIER THAT THEY WOULD CLIMB TO 2000 FT AGL, AND IF THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH LIFT AT THAT ALTITUDE THAT THE FLIGHT SHOULD CONTINUE TO 3000 FT BEFORE RELEASING. ACCORDING TO THE GLIDER PILOT, THE FLIGHT WAS AT 2000 FT WHEN THE TOW AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN. THE GLIDER PILOT THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE MT. ELMORE SO HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO MT. ELMORE, AND THE GLIDER STARTED TO SINK. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD; THE GLIDER CONTINUED TO SINK AND STRUCK TREE TOPS BEFORE IT SPUN TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S PREMATURE RELEASE FROM THE TOW PLANE. THE LACK OF LIFT AND THE DOWNDRAFT WERE FACTORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/3/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1332
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MORRISVILLE
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05661
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID MPV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1610
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 3 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4194D
NTSB Number BFO94LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WSK PZL Krosno
Aircraft Model KR-03A
Aircraft Series Identifier KR-03A
Aircraft Serial Number 03-03
Certified Max Gross Weight 1190
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 600
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD SMYTH
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR#2 TOWN HILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WOLCOTT
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05680
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STOWE SOARING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR2 BOX 6530
Operator City MORRISVILLE
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05661
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MVL
Departure City
Departure State VT
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MVL
Destination City
Destination State VT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --