Massey Ranch Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Smyrna Bch, Florida 32170
Saturday, September 26, 1992 11:08 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE WIND WAS FROM SOUTH AT 12 KTS. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18, ON PROPER GLIDEPATH, THE GLIDER BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES JUST PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY AND THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, AND DESCENDED NOSE FIRST TO THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE DOWNDRAFT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1108
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEW SMYRNA BCH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32170
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MASSEY RANCH AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X50
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID DAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 175
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 513
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47892
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90861
NTSB Number MIA92LA191
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LET
Aircraft Model L-13
Aircraft Series Identifier L-13
Aircraft Serial Number 025722
Certified Max Gross Weight 1240
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 5 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 91
Airframe Hours 900
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRECISION SOARING, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 98
Aircraft Owner City NEW SYMRNA BCH.
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32170
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PRECISION SOARING, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 98
Operator City NEW SYMRNA BCH.
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32170
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 X50
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --