Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A N117TB

Summary

On 28 November 1999 at about 21:40 local time, a Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A registered N117TB was involved in an accident near Palmerton, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 November 1999 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmerton, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.8009, -75.6092

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A

Registration

N117TB

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beltzville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

NYC00LA042

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's improper decision to delay his landing. A factor related to the accident was the loss of thermal lift.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While ridge soaring, the pilot elected to delay his landing back to the airport. The sun became low on the horizon, and the glider began to loose lift. The pilot attempted to fly the glider close to a ridgeline in an attempt to gain lift, but could not locate the ridgeline due to a glare through the windscreen. The glider began to descend and the pilot performed a forced landing to a parking lot. The sun set below the horizon at 1637.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.