Bölkow B-1 accident near Groton, Vermont, June 22, 1983
On June 22, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Bölkow B-1, registered N911CW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groton, Vermont. 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
- June 22, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Groton, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bölkow B-1
- Registration
- N911CW · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT OF APRX 100 MILES. SHE REPORTED THAT ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT, A LACK OF 'LIFT' WAS ENCOUNTERED & AN OFF ARPT LANDING WAS INITIATED. WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO LAND IN A FIELD, THE GLIDER STRUCK A TELEPHONE WIRE APRX 30 FT AGL. THE WIRE & POLES WERE HIDDEN BY SURROUNDING TREES & THE WIRE WAS NOT SEEN BEFORE IMPACT. IMPACT WITH THE GROUND RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR & BELLY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 738 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 644 as pilot in command; 75 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 14, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Warren VT at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 1 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.