Philadelphia Gliderport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hilltown, Pennsylvania 18927
Friday, July 13, 2012 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor-in-command was in the rear seat, and the flight instructor receiving instruction was in the front seat for flight instructor winch-launch glider training. The two pilots had flown multiple launches earlier that day, with each flight preceded by a briefing. After practicing recoveries from simulated rope breaks at 400 feet and 10 feet above ground level (agl), the intent for the accident flight was to simulate a rope break at 200 feet agl, which the flight instructor-in-command expected would result in a straight-ahead landing. The ground roll, takeoff, and transition to climb were “normal,” and the flight instructor in command pulled the release lever about 150 feet agl. The flight instructor receiving instruction nosed the glider over, and established a wings-level airspeed of about 54 knots. However, instead of landing straight ahead, the flight instructor receiving instruction turned the glider to the right, then to the left, and attempted to land opposite the direction of takeoff. There was insufficient altitude to complete the maneuver, and the glider impacted trees. The flight instructor-in-command could not remember the latter part of the flight due to head trauma, but the flight instructor receiving instruction stated that the flight instructor in command did not take control of the glider at any time before impact. Neither pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded the glider’s normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper decision of the flight instructor receiving instruction to attempt a course reversal rather than land straight ahead following a simulated low-level rope break, and the inadequate remedial action of the flight instructor-in-command for allowing him to do so.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hilltown
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18927
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401942N
Event Location Longitude 0751430W
Event Location Airport Philadelphia Gliderport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0PA0
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 670
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) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID DYL
Elevation of weather observation facility 394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3700
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31697
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 5 2013 4:22PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5448G
NTSB Number ERA12LA455
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 BURKHART GROB
Aircraft Model G 103 TWIN II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3868-K-109
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 31 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 147
Airframe Hours 3222
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHILADELPHIA GLIDER COUNCIL INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 122
Aircraft Owner City HILLTOWN
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18927-0122
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PHILADELPHIA GLIDER COUNCIL INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 122
Operator City HILLTOWN
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 18927-0122
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 0PA0
Departure City Hilltown
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 0PA0
Destination City Hilltown
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 5 2013 4:23PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2450
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --