Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clifton Forge, Virginia
Monday, September 16, 1991 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE FLIGHT AFTER SHE RAN OUT OF THERMAL LIFT, SO SHE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD, SHE TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL TOO SOON AND CONSEQUENTLY WAS TOO HIGH. THE FIELD WAS OVERSHOT DURING THE LANDING AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD SHE TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL TOO SOON AND CONSEQUENTLY WAS TOO HIGH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE, DISTANCE AND SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN LANDING OVERSHOOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLIFTON FORGE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Not Reported
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1854
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45732
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7LR
NTSB Number BFO91LA084
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 Rolladen-Schneider
Aircraft Model LS-4A
Aircraft Series Identifier LS-4A
Aircraft Serial Number 4087
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 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 11 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 398
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMANDA S. PRATT
Aircraft Owner Street Address THE BATTLEGROUND
Aircraft Owner City WAITSFIELD
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05673
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMANDA S. PRATT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address THE BATTLEGROUND
Operator City WAITSFIELD
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05673
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
Departure City NEW CASTLE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
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 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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --