NTSB: Reason for Pa. glider crash remains unknown — (Daily American)

Thursday, July 31st, 2008
SSRI Ed note: Woman on antidepressants crashes Glider during takeoff, dies, NTSB speculates that meds may have affected her ability to maintain control.

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Daily American

July 31, 2008

WASHINGTON ­ The National Transportation Safety Administration says the cause of a fatal glider crash last summer in central Pennsylvania remains unknown.   The five-member board has released a probable cause statement saying it could not determine why 39-year-old Debra Burgess lost control of the glider during takeoff last July.

Burgess, who was from Elmira, N.Y., had made an unplanned landing at Centre Airpark in Centre Hall after losing lift. An airplane was in the process of towing the glider back to Mifflin County Airport when the crash happened.

The board says an antidepressant was found in Burgess’ blood, but it could not be determined if it affected her ability to keep control of the glider.   The NTSB report was adopted June 30.