Solberg-Hunterdon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Readington, New Jersey 08870
Sunday, November 1, 1992 16:23 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT PLANNED HIS LANDING INTO AN OPEN FIELD WHILE ON BASE LEG. DURING TOUCHDOWN, HE ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN THAT WAS MASKED BY THE GRASS IN THE FIELD. THE WINGS OF THE GLIDER WERE BENT DOWNWARD DURING THE LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH FOR LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1623
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City READINGTON
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08870
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOLBERG-HUNTERDON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N51
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 195
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2283
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 1 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47160
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13WG
NTSB Number NYC93LA032
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 LF-13
Aircraft Series Identifier LF-13
Aircraft Serial Number 174812
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 Oct 5 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2047
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CENTRAL JERSEY SOARING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1426 VALLEY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City WALL TWSP
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07719
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CENTRAL JERSEY SOARING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1426 VALLEY DRIVE
Operator City WALL TWSP
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07719
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 1600
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --