Randall Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Middletown, New York 10940
Sunday, May 31, 2009 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot described entering the traffic pattern to land on the grass adjacent to runway 26. The pilot reported that wind was out of the northwest at about 15 knots gusting to about 20 knots. The pilot said that “There was moderate turbulence on downwind which increased on base and final. The glider stalled about 8 feet above touchdown due to insufficient speed for the conditions and landed hard, breaking the tail boom… My speed on base and final was insufficient for the conditions.” The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the glider.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusty winds, which resulted in a loss of adequate airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Middletown
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 10940
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414319N
Event Location Longitude 0743916W
Event Location Airport Randall Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 06N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 523
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID KMGJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 364
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 70
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.71
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25632
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2009 1:35PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N391BA
NTSB Number ERA09CA320
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 AB SPORTINE AVIACIJA
Aircraft Model LAK-17A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 120
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
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 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 4 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 42
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WARSHAW RAPHAEL H
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WAYNE
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07470-8409
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name WARSHAW RAPHAEL H
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WAYNE
Operator State NJ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 07470-8409
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 1N7
Departure City Blairstown
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1N7
Destination City Blairstown
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 24 2009 1:35PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 2810
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --