Pilot Seriously Injured, Aircraft Destroyed

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident involving a Schleicher ASW 19B glider that went down while attempting to land at Saratoga County Airport (5B2), Saratoga, New York on September 19.

According to the report, the aircraft was destroyed when it collided with terrain while attempting to land at the airport. The private pilot was seriously injured. The glider was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated at 5B2 at an unknown time.

A designated pilot examiner for the FAA was at the airport and witnessed the accident. He stated that he first observed the glider when it was on final approach for runway 32. The glider was "high and fast," and the landing gear and spoilers were retracted. He said the glider flew about halfway down the runway, climbed, and made a steep right turn and attempted to land on the runway in the opposite direction. The witness never saw the spoilers extend, but the landing gear did extend and retract at least once during the turn. The glider made a second low pass (below 100 ft) over the runway at an "excessive" speed, but did not land. The witness said the glider entered another climb and made a very steep left turn and nearly missed a building. The glider descended while in the turn and the left wing struck the ground followed by the nose.

Initial examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that glider cartwheeled and came to rest on the right side of the final approach path of runway 32, which resulted in extensive impact damage to the glider's wings and fuselage. The landing gear and spoilers were retracted.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov