Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Plymouth Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360
Wednesday, February 23, 2000 14:42 EST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
Prior to departure, the flight instructor told the pilot who was receiving his biennial flight review that it was windy and 'they should fly conservatively.' The flight instructor and pilot departed, and soared the motor glider 'in strong lift conditions' in the vicinity of the airport in the power-off configuration. Upon returning to the airport, the flight instructor decided to land in the power off configuration. The pilot delayed the turn to base. Upon turning base, the pilot was uncomfortable with the approach and released control of the motor glider to the flight instructor. The flight instructor then turned the motor glider directly toward the airport and 'very heavy sinking air' was encountered. The flight instructor prepared to land short of the asphalt runway on the grass, but was unable to maintain enough lift to clear the trees bordering the airport. The motor glider descended through the trees, sheared off a large section of the right wing, and came to rest on the right side partially inverted. The speed brake handle was found in the fully extended position. The right speed brake was extended, and the left speed brake was found retracted. The landing runway was 24, and the winds were from 220 degrees at 16 gusting to 23 knots. Examination of the motor glider revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
the flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was the flight instructor's improper use of speed brakes and the strong gusty winds with downdrafts.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 2/23/2000 |
| Event Day of the Week | Wednesday |
| Time of Event | 1442 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time |
| Event City | PLYMOUTH |
| Event State | MASSACHUSETTS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 02360 |
| Event Date Year | 2000 |
| Event Date Month | 2 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | -- |
| Event Location Longitude | -- |
| Event Location Airport | PLYMOUTH MUNICIPAL |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | PYM |
| 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 | 270 |
| Airport Elevation | 149 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Unknown |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1452 Eastern Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 80 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | PYM |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 149 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 0 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 8500 |
| 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) | 12 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 1 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 220 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 16 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 23 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Unknown |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Total Minor | 1 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 681 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | Feb 23 2000 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1442 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 10 2001 4:05AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N64RG |
| NTSB Number | IAD00FA023 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Aerotechnik |
| Aircraft Model | L-13 SEH VIVAT |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | L-13 SEH V |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 930429 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1588 |
| 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 | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Aug 30 1999 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 74 |
| Airframe Hours | 789 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | PAUL J. SCHUYLER LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 269 GREENWOOD AVE |
| Aircraft Owner City | BETHEL |
| Aircraft Owner State | CT |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 06081 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | HENRY F. KREJCI |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | |
| Operator City | PLYMOUTH |
| Operator State | MA |
| Operator Country | |
| Operator Zip code | 02360 |
| 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) | Instructional |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | PYM |
| Departure City | |
| Departure State | MA |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1400 |
| 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 | Approach |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 10 2001 4:05AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 24 |
| Runway Length | 4350 |
| Runway Width | 75 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |