Springwood Gliderport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buchanan, Virginia 24066
Sunday, March 24, 1991 14:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED AND DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB THE PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOWPLANE. THE PILOT INDICATED HE RELEASED BECAUSE THE TOWPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND HE FELT THE GLIDER WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREES AHEAD. THE GLIDER PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE RELEASED FROM THE TOWPLANE, HE TURNED RIGHT TO AVOID THE TREES; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA AND THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT THE TAKEOFF WITH UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/24/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BUCHANAN
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24066
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SPRINGWOOD GLIDERPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ROA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1176
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 999
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 24
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 33
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 37
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 24 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43052
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2451W
NTSB Number BFO91LA034
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 SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model SGS 2-33
Aircraft Series Identifier SGS 2-33
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RIDGE & VALLEY SOARING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1525 UNIVERSITY AVE
Aircraft Owner City CHARLOTTESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22903
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RIDGE & VALLEY SOARING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1525 UNIVERSITY AVE
Operator City CHARLOTTESVILLE
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22903
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 1445
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 Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --