Cirrus STANDARD CIRRUS accident near Woodbine, Maryland, April 12, 1985
On April 12, 1985 at about 8:59 pm local time, a Cirrus STANDARD CIRRUS (glider), registered N494BZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodbine, Maryland (Woodbine Drop Zone airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1985 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Woodbine, Maryland · Woodbine Drop Zone · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cirrus STANDARD CIRRUS STANDARD C
- Registration
- N494BZ · no longer on the register · serial 262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB AT AN UNUSUALLY STEEP ATTITUDE. THEN AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL (APRX 50 ABOVE THE TOW PLANE), THE GLIDER RELEASED FROM THE TOW ROPE.ACCORDING TO ONE WITNESS, THE ACFT MAINTAINED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN, ROTATED TO THE LEFT & STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING & NOSE. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & COULD NOT RECALL DETAILS CONCERNING THE FLT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE MAJORITY OF THE PLT'S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WAS IN A GROB SAILPLANE WHICH HAD DIFFERENT HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. DURING TAKEOFF IN THE STANDARD CIRRUS, ITS NOSE WOULD CHARACTERISTICALLY RISE BY ITSELF. HOWEVER, IN THE GROB, THE PLT SHOULD APPLY BACK PRESSURE ON THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TO ACHIEVE A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PLT HAD NOT FLOWN THE STANDARD CIRRUS IN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 232 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 212 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 95 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 860 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from DCA, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.