Reader-Botsford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wellington, Ohio 44090
Saturday, June 11, 2005 12:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The glider was towed to 3,000 feet msl, and soared uneventfully over the local area. At 1,700 feet, the pilot entered a left downwind leg runway 36; a 2,850-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway. The glider was too low on the downwind leg, and the pilot flew a tighter traffic pattern to correct for the low altitude. As the glider turned onto a left base leg, the pilot reported that it encountered a downdraft and possible headwind. The glider remained too low and struck trees on the final approach to the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Wellington
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44090
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 410945N
Event Location Longitude 0821210W
Event Location Airport Reader-Botsford Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 67D
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LPR
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
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) 30.03
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18338
NTSB Notification Source FAA Cleveland FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3872G
NTSB Number NYC05CA097
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Burkhart Grob
Aircraft Model G103 Twin Astir
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3777
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Fun Country Soaring Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Avon Lake
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 67D
Departure City Wellington
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2005 6:11PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2850
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --