14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 25, 2012 in Dansville, NY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/30/2014
Aircraft: SCHLEICHER ASW-19, registration: N438AS
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
During the evening before the accident, the glider was assembled, and the pilot flew it for about 30 minutes uneventfully. On the day of the accident, after flying locally for about 3 hours, the glider was about 1 mile from the departure airport when witnesses reported that the glider started rolling back and forth into 90-degree banks. After three or four rolls, the glider descended nose-down to the ground and impacted a field in a flat attitude. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. About 3 years before the accident, the pilot underwent a procedure to repair an aneurysm of the ascending aorta combined with placement of a single vessel coronary artery bypass graft. He subsequently received a medical certificate and reported the surgery and that he was taking metoprolol (a beta blocker used to treat hypertension and prevent heart attacks), simvastatin (a cholesterol lowering drug), and lisinopril (a blood pressure medicine). Although the pilot’s medical certificate had expired about 1 month before the accident, he was not required to possess a current medical certificate as a glider pilot. Before the accident flight, the pilot remarked to a friend that he was not feeling well. The friend added that the day was very hot and that the pilot did not drink water before the flight or bring any water with him. Autopsy results indicated that there was no evidence to suggest any direct effect of the pilot’s cardiovascular disease (heart attack) in his ability to control the glider. Toxicological testing revealed levels of diphenhydramine in the pilot’s blood that were well above therapeutic levels. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and as a sleep aid. It is probable that the cognitive and psychomotor impairment caused by diphenhydramine contributed to the pilot’s loss of control in this accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to maintain glider control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On August 25, 2012, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher ASW-19 glider, N438AS, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain in Dansville, New York. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from the Dansville Municipal Airport (DSV), Dansville, New York, about 1230.
The pilot owned the glider and based it at DSV. He was also a member of Finger Lakes Soaring (FLS), which was based at DSV. Two witnesses observed the accident. The first witness was working at a facility near the airport. He reported that he was watching the glider perform large circles. The glider then started rolling, "back and forth from one wing to another." After three or four rolls, the glider descended nose-down to the ground in a 90-degree bank attitude. The second witness was another member of FLS and was at the airport. He stated that he was standing near the front entrance of the clubhouse when he observed the glider about 1 mile north of the airport. The glider was in a 90-degree bank and flying west at a slow speed, about 30 knots. The glider then turned north and the bank seemed to decrease, but the glider descended into terrain.
PILOT INFORMATION
The pilot, age 66, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and glider. He also held a flight instructor certificate, with a rating for glider. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on July 14, 2011. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 1,600 hours. The pilot's logbook was not recovered.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The single-seat, fiberglass and metal glider, serial number 19230, was manufactured in 1978. It's most recent annual inspection was completed on August 18, 2012. At that time, the glider had accumulated 1,159.2 total flight hours.
Another FLS member added that the glider had not flown for about 5 years prior to the accident. The pilot had the glider resurfaced and returned to service, which was completed about 5 days prior to the accident. The evening prior to the accident, the glider was assembled and flown by the pilot for about 30 minutes uneventfully.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
The recorded weather at DSV, at 1554, was: wind from 210 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 31 degrees C; dew point 14 degrees C; altimeter 30.18 inches Hg.
WRECKAGE INFORMATION
The glider impacted a field about 1 mile northwest of DSV. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the landing gear was in the down and locked position. The right wing had separated from the spoiler box outward, and the left wing exhibited impact damage on its underside and at the wing tip. The forward section was compromised and crushed back into the cockpit area. The canopy assembly was opened, but remained attached to the fuselage with the Plexiglas broken and shattered throughout the debris field. The tailboom was partially separated and bent toward the right of the glider. Flight control continuity was established during the examination.
After the wreckage was recovered from the field, the static balance of the flight controls was tested at a repair facility. The testing revealed that the elevator (7.3 in./lbs. with an allowable range of 5.21 to 8.81 in./lbs.) and ailerons (8.8 in./lbs. with an allowable range of 7.59 to 9.33 in./lbs.) were within limits. The rudder (12.1 in.\lbs. with an allowable range of 7.81 to 10.41 in./lbs.) was out of balance; however, the preimpact weight and balance of the flight controls could not be determined and there was no evidence that the rudder imbalance resulted in a loss of roll control.
A ClearNav MN-1365 flight display was recovered from the wreckage and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory, Washington, D.C. Data were successfully downloaded from the unit, but the data were from three previous events. The first two events were recorded on June 19 and July 28, 2012. They were recorded on the ground and consistent with unit installation or maintenance and not a flight. The third event recorded was recorded on August 24, 2012, which was the uneventful flight that was completed during the evening prior to the accident. The accident flight was not recorded.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office, Rochester, New York. Toxicological testing was performed on the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Science Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Review of the toxicological report revealed:
"Diphenhydramine detected in Liver
0.488 (ug/ml, ug/g) Diphenhydramine detected in Blood (Cavity)
Metoprolol detected in Liver
Metoprolol detected in Blood (Cavity)"
Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and as a sleep aid. It is available over the counter under the trade names Benadryl and Unisom. Compared to other antihistamines, diphenhydramine causes marked sedation; it is also classed as a depressant and this is the rationale for its use as a sleep aid. Altered mood and impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance may also be observed. In fact, in a driving simulator study, a single dose of diphenhydramine impaired driving ability more than a blood alcohol concentration of 0.100 percent.
Review of the pilot's FAA medical records revealed that in 2009, he underwent a procedure to repair an aneurysm of the ascending aorta combined with placement of a single vessel coronary artery bypass graft. In 2011 he applied for a medical certificate and reported the surgery and that he was taking metoprolol (a beta blocker used to treat hypertension and prevent heart attacks), simvastatin (a cholesterol lowering drug), and lisinopril (a blood pressure medicine). After providing additional information, he was awarded a third-class special issuance medical certificate "not valid for any class after 7/31/2012."
At the time of the accident, his medical was no longer valid, but he was flying a glider which only required him to "self-certify" his medical condition. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Natural disease of the heart was also noted including atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease with dilation and enlargement of the heart. The previous coronary artery bypass graft and aortic repair were described by the pathologist.
The pilot's friend and fellow club member reported that the pilot stated he was not feeling well on the day of the accident. The friend added that the day was hot and although the pilot drank coffee prior to the flight, he did not drink water or bring any water with him on the flight.
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA528
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 25, 2012 in Dansville, NY
Aircraft: SCHLEICHER ASW-19, registration: N438AS
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 25, 2012, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher ASW-19 glider, N438AS, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground in Danville, New York. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, personal flight. The flight originated from the Danville Municipal Airport (DSV) Danville, New York, about 1230.
Witnesses at the departure airport observed the glider depart and it was seen again upon its return to the airport. It was observed about one mile from the approach end of runway 14 in a right 90-degree bank heading west just above the treetops. The glider leveled out on the approach end of the runway. Moments later, the glider rolled toward the north away from the airport as it was lost from sight behind trees. One witness observed the glider flying slow and its wings were “tipping back and forth” before it descended toward the ground, impacting nose first, followed by the right wing, and came to rest flat on its belly in the open field.
A wreckage examination by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the landing gear was in the down and locked position, the right wing separated from the spoiler box outward, the left wing had impact damaged underneath and at the wing tip. The forward section was ripped open and crushed back into the cockpit area. The canopy assembly was opened but remained attached to the fuselage with the Plexiglas broken and shattered throughout the debris field. The tail boom was partially separated and bent toward the right of the glider. Flight controls continuity was established during the examination.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 438AS Make/Model: ASW1 Description: SCHLEICHER ASW-19 GLIDER
Date: 08/25/2012 Time: 1930
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: DANSVILLE State: NY Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, NEAR DANSVILLE, NY
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: ROCHESTER, NY (EA23) Entry date: 08/27/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=438AS
James Rizzo
Dansville, N.Y. - The investigation continues into what caused 66-year-old James Rizzo, a well known local attorney with decades of flying experience, to crash Saturday.
“He was really looking forward to flying yesterday afternoon,” said Rick Lafford, a Board Member and instructor at Finger Lakes Soaring Club.
Rizzo, who began soaring as a teenager, loved to fly glider planes.
“He had a zest for flight,” said Lafford. “He was just so happy to share it with anybody and everybody. I mean that kind of enthusiasm is hard to reproduce.”
But around 3:30 Saturday afternoon, something went terribly wrong. Rizzo was killed when he crashed his glider in the area of Zerfass and Meter Roads, in Dansville.
Friends say Rizzo’s death is a terrible loss to the soaring community – a community that's now looking for answers.
“They're all viewing this as a deep tragedy, just shocked by the whole thing, that somebody with his experience level could have this kind of thing happen to him,” Lafford said.
Read more: http://www.13wham.com
A 66-year-old Rochester attorney died Saturday afternoon after the glider he was piloting crashed in Dansville, Livingston County.
According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews responded about 3:30 p.m. to a call for a glider accident in a field near the Dansville Airport. They found James J. Rizzo, who had suffered serious injuries, and his damaged glider.
Rizzo is a longtime Rochester lawyer, who practiced both civil and criminal law.
Read more here: http://www.democratandchronicle.com
