Glasflugel H-301 accident near Blairstown, New Jersey, September 15, 2008
On September 15, 2008 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Glasflugel H-301 (glider), registered N1263, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Blairstown, New Jersey (Blairstown airport). 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 inadvertent retraction of flaps during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2008 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Blairstown, New Jersey · Blairstown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel H-301 · all H-301s on the register
- Registration
- N1263 · registry record · serial 78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was conducting a personal flight and flew around the local area before returning to his departure airport. He entered a left downwind for runway 25 and completed his before-landing checks. The winds were reported to be out of the west at 16 knots gusting to 26 knots. He lowered flaps, extended the speed brakes, and turned on final approach. The landing flare was initiated over the runway and he reached over to retract the speed brakes, and inadvertently retracted the flaps. The glider collided with the runway hard and came to a stop. The pilot exited the glider without assistance and without injury. Examination of the glider revealed that the tail section of the glider received structural damage. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the glider before the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › TE flap control system › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,570 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2008; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 1N7 Blairstown NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from 12N, 79 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.