Millard Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Annville, Pennsylvania 17003
Monday, May 20, 1991 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH IN HIS MOTORIZED GLIDER WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE DUE TO A DOWNDRAFT, WHICH PLACED HIM BELOW THE ELEVATED THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN. HE APPLIED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO 'MAKE THE RUNWAY,' BUT 'CUT THE POWER AND FLARED INTO THE BUSHES AT THE RUNWAY EMBANKMENT' WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO A LOSS OF ALTITUDE PRECIPITATED BY A DOWNDRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ANNVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17003
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MILLARD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N76
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 290
Airport Elevation 485
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 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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2037
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46285
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:02AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N107GH
NTSB Number NYC91DGT04
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 GEORGE E HEIDE, JR.
Aircraft Model MONI MOTORGLIDER
Aircraft Series Identifier MONI MOTOR
Aircraft Serial Number 100
Certified Max Gross Weight 500
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Oct 17 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERHARD HOFFMANN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 512T SHIRKS RD.
Aircraft Owner City PALMYRA
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17078
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GERHARD HOFFMANN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 512T SHIRKS RD.
Operator City PALMYRA
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17078
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 No
Departure Airport Code N71
Departure City DONEGAL SPRINGS
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 11
Runway Length 2850
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --