Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I accident near Decatur, TX
On October 11, 2015, a Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I (glider) was involved in an accident near Decatur, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 11, 2015
- Place
- Decatur, TX
- Aircraft
- Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.260°N, 97.581°W
- NTSB ID
- 20151012X22117
Official records · CEN16LA007
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 11, 2015, at an undetermined time, an experimental Woodstock I glider, N21468, impacted terrain near the Decatur Municipal Airport (KLUD), Decatur, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured and the glider was substantially damaged. The glider was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from KLUD about 1430. According to a member of a local glider flying club, the pilot was towed by an airplane about 1430. Another member of the club saw the glider maneuvering between 3,000 and 4,000 feet mean sea level several miles from the airport between 1430 and 1500. At sunset, the pilot was unaccounted for and the flying club reported the glider missing. The wreckage of the glider was found about 2030 near the approach end of runway 17. There were no known witnesses to the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 70, held a private pilot certificate with a glider rating and a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate for airplane single engine and instrument airplane which expired May 31, 1992. On May 6, 2008, he received a second class special issuance medical certificate. On his application for the medical certificate, he reported 1,030 hours of total time with 0 hours logged in the prec
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning from the downwind to the base leg of the pattern in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the glider exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
