New England Gliderport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Methuen, Massachusetts 01844
Sunday, October 9, 1988 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FAILED TO CONNECT HIS AILERONS WHEN HE ASSEMBLED THE GLIDER. HE DID NOT MAKE A FLIGHT CONTROL CHECK AND ACCEPTED AN AERO TOW TO GET AIRBORNE. AFTER AIRBORNE, HE DISCOVERED THE MISTAKE AND STAYED ATTACHED UNTIL 1500 FEET AT WHICH TIME HE RELEASED. HE SAID TURBULENCE CAUSED THE GLIDER TO ENTER A SPIRAL AND WHEN HE RECOVERED, HE WAS TOO LOW TO MAKE A FIELD. HE SAID HE STRUCK A TREE ON APPROACH AND FLIPPED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT UNCONTROLLED CONTACT WITH A TREE DURING A LANDING AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO CONNECT HIS AILERON CONTROLS AND ACCEPTED A TOW TO GET AIRBORNE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City METHUEN
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01844
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NEW ENGLAND GLIDERPORT
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 0
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 4000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 12
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 2399
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 26 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39195
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2737H
NTSB Number NYC89LA018
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 1-35C
Aircraft Series Identifier 1-35C
Aircraft Serial Number 67
Certified Max Gross Weight 685
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 Oct 23 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 79
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN J GOULD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 29 WALKERDGE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City NASHUA
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03062
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN GOULD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 29 WALKERIDGE DRIVE
Operator City NASHUA
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 03062
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 SALEM
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
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 Takeoff
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 32
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --