Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau SPEED ASTIR II N176SS

Summary

On 1 July 2007 at about 20:00 local time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau SPEED ASTIR II registered N176SS was involved in an accident near Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 2007 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Centre Airpark (N16)

Coordinates

40.8117, -77.6569

Aircraft

Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau SPEED ASTIR II

Registration

N176SS

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Centre Hall → Reedsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07LA155

1 person died.

The pilot's inability to maintain control of the glider for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident glider was under tow for takeoff when the accident occurred. The glider lifted off before the tow airplane and then ascended to between 20 and 50 feet above the ground very quickly, and at a "high" angle of attack. The glider then yawed to the left and the left wing dropped before it began a slow roll to the right. The glider continued to roll right until it reached an attitude where the wings were perpendicular to the ground. It then sank down until the right wing impacted the ground. The glider "cart wheeled" onto its nose before coming to rest inverted. Examination of the glider revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies, and that the tow rope disconnected at the glider end at some point during the accident sequence. Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed the presence of a prescription antidepressant. The extent to which the drug may have affected the pilot, if at all, could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.