Modena, NY, USA
N1870R
AMS Flight APIS-M
According to a witness, the glider was about 300 feet agl, on final approach to land, when the pilot deployed the wing spoilers. The glider descended below the tree line and then impacted trees and came to rest. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that there was no pre-crash aircraft structure or flight control anomalies found.
On June 28, 2008, at 0955 eastern daylight time, an APIS-M (Motor Glider), N1870R, crashed into wooded terrain during a turn on to final approach. The glider was substantially damaged, and the pilot was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The glider was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. A witness stated that this was the pilot's second flight in the glider. The witness stated that the glider was mechanically sound, and all flight controls worked correctly, prior to the flight. The day was clear and that the winds were calm. The pilot departed to the north and entered the downwind. The downwind entry, base turn, and final approach turn was normal. As the pilot was on short final, at approximately 300 feet above ground level (agl), he deployed the wing spoilers and began a left turn. The witness went on to say that when the glider descended below the tree line that was the last view he had of the glider. He said he tried to enter the wooded area where the glider went down but was unable to do so. Shortly thereafter, emergency responders arrived at the accident scene. The pilot, age 66, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land. His certificate was updated on April 28, 2003. He held an expired third-class medical certificate issued on October 23, 1991. The pilot's logbooks were not recovered for review. The single seat, low-wing, motor glider was manufactured in 2006. The maintenance logbooks were not recovered for review Examination of the crash site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the glider was located 2,000 feet short of runway 36. Further examination revealed that the gliders motor was stowed at the time of the accident, and no flight control anomalies were found. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on June 29, 2008 by the Dutchess County Medical Examiner, Poughkeepsie, New York. The cause of death was reported as "multiple injuries." Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol was detected in the liver or muscle, and no drugs were detected in the liver.
The pilot's improper use of wing spoilers on final approach and his misjudged distance/altitude resulting in the glider colliding with trees short of the runway.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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