Accident Sportavia-Pützer RF-5B N55SM, Sunday 1 September 1991

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Date:	Sunday 1 September 1991
Time:	11:15 LT
Type:	Sportavia-Pützer RF-5B
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N55SM
MSN:	51053
Year of manufacture:	1974
Engine model:	LIMBACH SL100E
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lockport, NY - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
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.

Probable Cause: 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.

Accident investigation: