Phila Gliderport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hilltown, Pennsylvania 18944
Saturday, January 18, 1986 13:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CESSNA WAS TOWING A GLIDER WHEN AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 FEET TO ABOUT 200 FEET, A DECREASE IN RPM WAS EXPERIENCED. THE GLIDER WAS DETACHED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, THE NOSE WAS LOWERED AND A LEFT TURN MADE WHILE STILL OVER THE GLIDERPORT. A RAPID DESCENT WAS MADE WITH WINGS LEVELED, AS CONTACT WITH THE FROZEN GROUND WAS MADE. THE RIGHT GEAR BROKE AT THE FUSELAGE AND THE WING DROPPED AS THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ALONG THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/18/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HILLTOWN
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18944
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PHILA GLIDERPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OPAO
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 670
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 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1309
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 21 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31704
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5171G
NTSB Number NYC86LA065
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 305-L-19
Aircraft Series Identifier 305-L-19
Aircraft Serial Number 23222
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
Aircraft Category Airplane
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHILADELPHIA GLIDER COUNCIL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 934 RT. 152
Aircraft Owner City PERKASIE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18944
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 10 2001 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --