MAYVILLE, NY, USA
N1196
SCHLEICHER KA-8B
The glider pilot reported he was on approach when he encountered a very unusual sink or down air condition. The aircraft descended and struck trees, about a quarter mile short of the runway.
On September 2, 1995, at 1414 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher KA-8B, N1196, a glider, sustained substantial damage during impact with trees, while attempting to land at the Dart Airport, Mayville, New York. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: I left Dart Airport for a short personal flight....On return to Dart Field, about 1/4 mile from approach end of [runway] 6, got a very unusual sink of down air condition and fell short of field. Put glider in small tree.
The pilot's inadequate inflight planning, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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