I.C.A. Brasov IS28B2 "LARK" accident near North Canaan, Connecticut, September 24, 1983
On September 24, 1983 at about 4:40 pm local time, a I.C.A. Brasov IS28B2 "LARK" (glider), registered N87RW, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Canaan, Connecticut (Canaan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- September 24, 1983 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- North Canaan, Connecticut · Canaan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov IS28B2 "LARK" IS28B2 "LA
- Registration
- N87RW · registry record · serial 63
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO WITNESSES OBSERVED THE GLIDER ON A DOWNWIND THAT WAS, IN THEIR ESTIMATION, LOWER THAN NORMAL. ONE WITNESS REPORTED OBSERVING THE SPOILERS EXTENDED. THE PLT STATED HE EXTENDED THE FLAPS ON DOWNWIND, BUT HAD NOT USED THE SPOILERS. DURINGTHE TURN TO BASE LEG, THE PLT BECAME AWARE OF AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE. HE ADJUSTED THE BASE LEG BUT THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF THE RWY. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE RETRACTED POSITION.
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: 88 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 538 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 17, 1982; 132 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,298 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.