Amateur-built PW-5 accident near New Smithville, Pennsylvania, April 11, 2002
On April 11, 2002 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PW-5 (glider), registered N908BT, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smithville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather which resulted in the loss of thermal lift and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2002 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Smithville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PW-5
- Registration
- N908BT · registry record · serial 1707003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an "out-and-back" cross-country flight in a glider, the pilot noticed that the thermal lift began to dissipate, and he decided to "land out" in a field 1,500 feet below. He made a traffic pattern entry, and performed a forced landing. While on the base leg, the glider struck the top of a row of 20-foot-tall "hedge trees" at the edge of the field, and came to rest suspended in one of the trees. Examination of the glider revealed no mechanical anomalies.
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: 912 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 827 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 1N7 Blairstown NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.55 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ABE, 12 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.