Glasflugel LIBELLE 201B accident near Saratoga, New York, June 8, 1991
On June 8, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Glasflugel LIBELLE 201B (glider), registered N8041D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saratoga, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY FLARE WHEN MAKING AN UPHILL LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT CONTINUED ATTEMPTS AT FINDING LIFT WHICH REDUCED HIS LANDING OPTIONS WHEN HE DECIDED TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Saratoga, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel LIBELLE 201B LIBELLE 20
- Registration
- N8041D · registry record · serial 440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER FLYING FOR OVER 2 HOURS THE PILOT PLANNED ON AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. HE THEN SAW A CLOUD AND TRIED FOR ADDITIONAL LIFT. HE ACHIEVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF LIFT, HOWEVER HE WAS CARRIED AWAY FROM HIS INTENDED LANDING AREA AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE AREA. HE PLANNED FOR ANOTHER FIELD HOWEVER HE REALIZED IT WAS SLOPING THE WRONG WAY AT AN ALTITUDE THAT WAS TOO LOW TO CHANGE. HE CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND LANDED. THE FAA SAID THE PILOT LANDED ON AN UP HILL SLOPE AND THE FLARE THE PILOT ACCOMPLISHED WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE UPHILL SLOPE.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 173 hours in all; 48 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 Saratoga NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.