Pilatus B4-PC11 N65317
20 May 2021 · Sterling, Massachusetts, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 20 May 2021 at about 20:00 local time, a Pilatus B4-PC11 registered N65317, operated by Greater Boston Soaring Club Inc, was involved in an accident near Sterling, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sterling, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sterling (3B3)
- Coordinates
- 42.4259, -71.7929
- Aircraft
- Pilatus B4-PC11
- Registration
- N65317
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 1976
- Operator
- Greater Boston Soaring Club Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA21LA266
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s misjudged approach angle which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that once on final approach for the runway, he miscalculated his approach angle and found the glider low on altitude and airspeed. The glider then struck trees on the edge of the airport and impacted on the airport surface resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Pilatus B4 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2003 | Pilatus B4-PC11AF | Enumclaw, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1993 | Pilatus B4-PC11AF | Truckee, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 2021 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Sterling, Massachusetts, United States | Greater Boston Soaring Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 2021 | Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & ASW 27-18 | Sterling, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 2021 | Forisch Edward BUSHBY MUSTANG M II | Worcester, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 2021 | Piper PA46 | Leicester, Massachusetts, United States | Forza Management Co | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 2021 | Cessna 402C | Provincetown, Massachusetts, United States | Cape Air | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 Oct 2021 | Piper PA-28-236 | Orleans, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |