Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warren, Vermont 05674
Wednesday, June 16, 2004 17:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After flying for approximately 2 hours, as the pilots were returning to the airport, the wind "went southwest at 5 knots," decreasing the available lift. Approximately 4 miles from the airport, it became apparent that they were too low to make it to the airport, and they chose a field to land in. While on approach to the field, "persistent sink" made attaining the field "marginal," and it became necessary to increase the pitch of the glider to clear a 15-foot tall tree. As a result, the glider stalled and "mushed" to the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper pre-flight and in-flight planning, which resulted in a forced landing after experiencing a loss of thermal lift. A factor was the loss of thermal lift.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1720
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Warren
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05674
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 440700N
Event Location Longitude 0724937W
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID MPV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
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) 18032
NTSB Notification Source New England Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1720
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21VT
NTSB Number NYC04LA141
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 ASK-21
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21266
Certified Max Gross Weight 1250
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 11 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sugarbush Soaring Association
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Warren
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05674
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 0B7
Departure City Warren
Departure State VT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 0B7
Destination City Warren
Destination State VT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2005 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --