Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hazelton, Pennsylvania
Monday, May 10, 1982 15:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED BLAIRSTOWN, PA ON A ROUND ROBIN, TRIANGULAR COURSE TO BETHEL AND DALLAS, PA AND RETURN TO BLAIRSTOWN. HE STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS PROCEEDING FROM BETHEL TO DALLAS HE ENCOUNTERED HEAVY SINKING CONDITIONS IN ADDITION TO A HEAD WIND. REPORTEDLY, THE WIND WAS FROM 34O DEGREES AT 20 GUSTING 35 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SINKING CONDITIONS PERSISTED AND HE WAS FORCED TO LAND. HE STATED THE GLIDER WAS FORCED DOWN INTO TREES ADJACENT TO HIS INTENDED LANDING AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/10/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HAZELTON
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
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
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 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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 970
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 N77BF
NTSB Number NYC82DHA09
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 BRYAN
Aircraft Model HP-18
Aircraft Series Identifier HP-18
Aircraft Serial Number 48
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 741
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name R.B. FITCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4 VA. ROAD
Aircraft Owner City MONTVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07645
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name R.B. FITCH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4 VA. ROAD
Operator City MONTVILLE
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07645
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BLAIRSTOWN
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1235
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City ROUND ROBIN & R
Destination State
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --