Slingsby TYPE 43 SERIES 3F accident near Lovettsville, Virginia, April 20, 1985
On April 20, 1985 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Slingsby TYPE 43 SERIES 3F (glider), registered N5563V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lovettsville, Virginia (Scott Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 20, 1985 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lovettsville, Virginia · Scott Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Slingsby TYPE 43 SERIES 3F TYPE 43 SE
- Registration
- N5563V · registry record · serial 1028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE NORMALLY AVOIDED LANDING ON THE RWY SINCE THE GLIDER LANDED ON A SKID & IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO REMOUNT IT ON A GROUND HANDLING DOLLY. ON THIS FLT, HE PLANNED TO LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE THE APCH END OF THE RWY. HOWEVER, HE ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ALT ON THE BASE LEG & FINAL APCH, & WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING TIP HIT THE TOPS OF TREES & THE GLIDER CARTWHEELED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD SPENT TOO MANY HRS ON THIS FLT IN UNSEASONABLE HEAT & WENT TOO LONG (OVER 8 HRS) WITHOUT EATING.
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: 454 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 670 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 2, 1984; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 830 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from IAD, 22 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.