Sportine Aviacija LAK17B accident near Tamaqua, PA
On October 18, 2019, a Sportine Aviacija LAK17B (glider) was involved in an accident near Tamaqua, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 18, 2019
- Place
- Tamaqua, PA
- Aircraft
- Sportine Aviacija LAK17B · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.743°N, 76.018°W
- NTSB ID
- 20191018X73851
Official records · ERA20FA013
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 18, 2019, about 1542 eastern daylight time, a Sportine Aviacija LAK-17B motor glider, N830DK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness, who was also a glider pilot, stated that the accident pilot was among a group of three glider pilots that departed on an intended cross-country flight from 1N7 to Burnt Cabins, Pennsylvania, returning to 1N7. The witness stated that he departed 1N7 around 0930, and the accident glider took off around 0945. He further stated that it was not common to fly together, but they would maintain radio contact throughout the day and help each other with geographical points and finding thermals for lift. He stated that, about 1400, the accident pilot radioed and said that he was at Burnt Cabins and turning around to return to 1N7. About 1515, the accident pilot reported that he was climbing in a weak thermal near Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. That was the last communication he heard from the accident pilot. Another witness stated that he was working outside when he looked up and saw "an airplane" about 1/2 mile away heading straight down. He stopped and watched "the airplane" for a few seconds before it disappeared behind trees. Data obtained from an onboard PowerFLARM collision avoidance system began about 0943 shortly before takeoff from 1N7. The pilot proceeded west-southwest along ridgelines until arriving at Burnt Cabins, about 143 naut
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.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
