Sportavia-Putzer RF5B accident near Lockport, New York, September 1, 1991
On September 1, 1991 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Sportavia-Putzer RF5B (glider), registered N55SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lockport, New York (Lockport Cambria 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE GLIDER DURING LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED ON APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1991 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lockport, New York · Lockport Cambria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sportavia-Putzer RF5B · all RF5Bs on the register
- Registration
- N55SM · registry record · serial 51053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE POWERED GLIDER WAS MAKING A LANDING, WHEN THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HE APPLIED RUDDER AND AILERON CORRECTION, BUT THE GLIDER DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK SOME TREES.
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: 1,250 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach SL100E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- 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.