Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS accident near Damascus, Maryland, July 7, 1983
On July 7, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS (glider), registered N441UJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Damascus, Maryland (Clearview airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Damascus, Maryland · Clearview · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS · all CIRRUSs on the register
- Registration
- N441UJ · registry record · serial 55
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING AN OFF ARPT FORCED LANDING. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT SEE THE POWER LINES UNTIL SHE WAS ON THE FINAL APPROACH. SHE MANEUVERED THE GLIDER TO MISS THE POWERLINES BUT WAS UNABLE TO MISS THE FENCE AND LANDED SHORT. SHE HAD BEEN FLYING IN THERMAL LIFT AND UPON ENCOUNTERING HEAVY SINK WAS FORCED TO LAND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 141 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 750 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 24, 1983; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 882 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M078 Woodbine MD at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL83LA259.