ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 230052
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| Date: | Friday 18 October 2019 |
| Time: | 14:42 LT |
| Type: | Sportinė Aviacija LAK-17B FES |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N830DK |
| MSN: | 232 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2015 |
| Engine model: | Sportine aviacija ir Ko FES-LAK-M100 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Tamaqua, Walker Township, PA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Blairstown, NJ (1N7) |
| Blairstown, NJ (1N7) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot of the front electric sustainer (FES) engine-equipped glider departed on a cross-country 'out-and-return' flight. Another glider pilot, who was completing the same route, stated that the accident pilot reported via radio just before the accident that he was climbing in a 'weak thermal.' A witness on the ground reported that he saw the glider about 1/2 mile away heading straight down to the ground. The glider impacted terrain in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude; the forward cockpit was crushed. Examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Data downloaded from the onboard collision avoidance system revealed that, during the final approximate 15 minutes of flight, the glider's altitude gradually decreased from about 2,300 ft to about 1,400 ft, and, during this time, the glider completed several 360° turns consistent with attempting to climb in thermal lift. The final data points indicated that the glider completed a left 180° turn followed by a right 360° turn before the data ended in the vicinity of the accident site. The data did not record speed, bank angle, or pitch attitude parameters.
Whether or to what extent the pilot had used the electric motor during the flight could not be determined. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the glider's critical angle of attack while climbing in thermal lift, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain.
Probable Cause: The pilot's exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while climbing in thermal lift, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA20FA013
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=830DK
Location
Images:
Photo(c): NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Oct-2019 02:35 | Geno | Added |
| 19-Oct-2019 04:05 | RobertMB | Updated [Location, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-Oct-2019 20:25 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 20-Oct-2019 15:44 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 05-Mar-2022 23:43 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Photo] |
| 01-Jul-2022 16:42 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Accident report] |
| 01-Jul-2022 16:44 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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