Accident Grob G102CS C-GUOX, Sunday 15 October 1995

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Sunday 15 October 1995
Time:	12:30 LT
Type:	Grob G102CS
Owner/operator:	Montreal Soaring Council
Registration:	C-GUOX
MSN:	1352
Total airframe hrs:	2456 hours
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lake Placid, NY - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	(KLKP)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The glider pilot released from the tow plane at 4,400 ft msl, and, using thermals, climbed to 5,200 feet. With 50-knot winds aloft, the pilot maneuvered to find a mountain wave on the downwind side of a mountain ridge. He first encountered a downdraft in excess of 1,000 feet per minute, and then he encountered a horizontal rotor. He was unable to reach rising air, and continued in a descent into the trees. The glider came to rest inverted, with the empennage separated from the fuselage.

Probable Cause: the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather. Contributing factors were the high winds and downdrafts.

Accident investigation: