Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Woodstock, Virginia 22664
Sunday, June 16, 2002 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After being released from the tow plane, the pilot flew the glider for about 10 miles along a ridge. According to the pilot, he failed to recognize that the wind speed necessary to generate sufficient orographic lift had diminished, and also failed to execute a turn toward the valley while he had sufficient altitude to clear the terrain. As he executed a turn "into very weak ridge lift," the glider stalled, and mushed into trees. The pilot reported that his evaluation of the weather conditions prior to his departure predicted "good orographic lift" in the area. He also reported no mechanical deficiencies with the glider.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to recognize the loss of orographic lift conditions. A factor was the loss of orographic lift.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Woodstock
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22664
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385300N
Event Location Longitude 0783010W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1540 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID OKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 727
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.78
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13805
NTSB Notification Source Dulles FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2003 8:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dulles FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N341KS
NTSB Number IAD02LA059
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schleicher
Aircraft Model ASK21
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21252
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 2
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 2860
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name The K-21 Group
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1905 Kirby Road
Aircraft Owner City Mclean
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22101
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Frederic Winter
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12514 Mcduff Dr
Operator City Ft. Washington
Operator State MD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 20744
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 FRR
Departure City Front Royal
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FRR
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 29 2003 8:08PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --