Warrenton Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warrenton, Virginia 22186
Thursday, May 31, 1990 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL, HE REALIZED THAT THE GLIDER WAS TOO LOW TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE AND THE GLIDER FELL TO THE GROUND. THE GLIDER PILOT REPORTED 36 HOURS TOTAL FLIGT EXPERIENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS LANDING APPROACH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WARRENTON
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22186
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WARRENTON AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9WO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 442
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1950
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IAD
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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) 1546
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42957
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2958H
NTSB Number BFO90LA052
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-126E
Aircraft Series Identifier SGS-126E
Aircraft Serial Number 688
Certified Max Gross Weight 720
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
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 GOEHRING, JACK J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1005 SPRING HILL RD.
Aircraft Owner City MCLEAN
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22102
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 1500
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 4
Runway Length 2215
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --