Waterbury Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plymouth, Connecticut
Wednesday, May 26, 1982 12:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THE RUDDER PEDALS CLICK INTO THEIR DETENTED/LOCKED POSITION WHEN THEY WERE ADJUSTED BEFORE TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, WHILE BEING TOWED FOR TAKEOFF, THE RUDDER PEDALS SLIPPED FORWARD ABOUT 1 TO 2 INCHES. THE PILOT REACHED DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND TO PULL THE RUDDER ADJUST KNOB AND REPOSITION THE RUDDER PEDALS. HOWEVER, HE INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE TOW RELEASE KNOB WHICH WAS LOCATED ABOUT 3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUDDER ADJUST KNOB. THE TOW ROPE WAS RELEASED WHEN HE ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 15 FT AGL AND 55 KNOTS. SINCE THERE WERE TREES AROUND THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE PULLED UP AND TURNED RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND IN A CLEAR AREA ON ANOTHER PART OF THE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE CLEARING AND CRASHED IN THE TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1203
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PLYMOUTH
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport WATERBURY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N41
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 3300
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) 65
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 901
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N77BZ
NTSB Number NYC82DA106
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 SCHLEICHER
Aircraft Model ASW-15
Aircraft Series Identifier ASW-15
Aircraft Serial Number 15130
Certified Max Gross Weight 660
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 306
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JONATHAN T. MEAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 477 EDGELL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FRAMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JONATHAN T. MEAD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 477 EDGELL ROAD
Operator City FRAMINGHAM
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01701
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code N41
Departure City PLYMOUTH
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code N41
Destination City PLYMOUTH
Destination State CT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --