W. T. Piper Mem. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 17745
Saturday, March 14, 1992 13:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE GLIDER WAS DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 27 FOR A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. DURING THE TOWED TAKEOFF, THE TOW ROPE BROKE AT 220 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT CLEARED THE TOW PLANE BY MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THEN TURNED BACK TO THE LEFT TO THE DEPARTURE FIELD. DUE TO OBSTRUCTIONS NEAR THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE GRASS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAVED RUNWAY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE GLIDER STRUCK A MOUND OF DIRT WHICH DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A TOW ROPE THAT BROKE AT LOW ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LOCK HAVEN
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17745
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport W. T. PIPER MEM.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LHV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 555
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 69
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51377
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12CG
NTSB Number BFO92LA039
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 LET
Aircraft Model L-13
Aircraft Series Identifier L-13
Aircraft Serial Number 174525
Certified Max Gross Weight 1102
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 2
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 6 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2717
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARRY C SAMUEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 372
Aircraft Owner City MONTOURSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17754
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HARRY C SAMUEL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 372
Operator City MONTOURSVILLE
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17754
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 27
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --