Scott Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lovettsville, Virginia 22080
Saturday, April 20, 1985 15:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED THAT HE NORMALLY AVOIDED LANDING ON THE RWY SINCE THE GLIDER LANDED ON A SKID & IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO REMOUNT IT ON A GROUND HANDLING DOLLY. ON THIS FLT, HE PLANNED TO LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE THE APCH END OF THE RWY. HOWEVER, HE ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ALT ON THE BASE LEG & FINAL APCH, & WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING TIP HIT THE TOPS OF TREES & THE GLIDER CARTWHEELED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD SPENT TOO MANY HRS ON THIS FLT IN UNSEASONABLE HEAT & WENT TOO LONG (OVER 8 HRS) WITHOUT EATING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LOVETTSVILLE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22080
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SCOTT AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VA61
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 529
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1451 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID IAD
Elevation of weather observation facility 313
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1191
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 22 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1235
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28535
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5563V
NTSB Number BFO85LA037
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 SLINGSBY
Aircraft Model TYPE 43 SERIES 3F
Aircraft Series Identifier TYPE 43 SE
Aircraft Serial Number 1028
Certified Max Gross Weight 830
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 Jun 2 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 670
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GORDON R. TYLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1506 HOLLINDALE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ALEXANDRIA
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22306
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 1215
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 Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --