Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Unionville, Pennsylvania 19375
Thursday, April 26, 1990 14:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE MAINTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 1500 FEET, LIGHT RAIN WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE GLIDER BEGAN LOSING LIFT. A DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND IN THE VALLEY THAT PARALLELED THE GLIDERPORT. DURING ROLL OUT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE GROUND DROPPED CAUSING THE GLIDER TO BECOME AIRBORNE AGAIN, AND ANOTHER LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN ANOTHER FIELD. HOWEVER, THE GLIDER STRUCK SOME TREES AND WAS DAMAGED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF THERMAL LIFT WHICH NECESSITATED A FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN COVERED BY TREES AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City UNIONVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19375
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 4
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 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 7000
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 307
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 26 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1625
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41244
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9856E
NTSB Number NYC90LA092
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-1-26B
Aircraft Series Identifier SGS-1-26B
Aircraft Serial Number 322
Certified Max Gross Weight 600
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RED WING SOARING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5385 ELBOW ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WAYNESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45068
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JEROME E. RUTHMAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11281 HANOVER RD.
Operator City CINCINNATI
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45240
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 JULIAN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
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 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 --