DG100 sail plane pilot has close encounter with another sailplane in the traffic pattern at 4ny8.

Attributes
ACN	699965
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 4ny8.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	699965
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

There were 4 sailplanes (including myself) soaring along the ridge at 4ny8 or harris hill glider port. I was the highest one at 2700 ft MSL. I departed the ridge at 2700 ft MSL and entered downwind for a landing pattern. This altitude gave me 1000 ft AGL for a normal approach and landing. I repeatedly checked the pattern for traffic and counted 3 sailplanes on the ridge when I departed. I flew a slightly high pattern (because of rotor downwash) and landed normally at approximately midfield. It was at this point a fellow pilot approached and told me that the ask-21 had flown his entire pattern directly underneath my sailplane. I never saw the ask-21 because he was flying a much lower pattern and was in my blind spot the entire time. As it turns out; we did in fact have vertical and lateral separation; as the ask-21 landed on the west side of the field and I landed in the grass center portion of the field. Still; the proximity of the 2 sailplanes made me uncomfortable and I believed worthy of this ASRS report. To remedy this situation; I believe standardization in the sailplane pattern could be emphasized.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DG100 SAIL PLANE PLT HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ANOTHER SAILPLANE IN THE TFC PATTERN AT 4NY8.

Narrative: THERE WERE 4 SAILPLANES (INCLUDING MYSELF) SOARING ALONG THE RIDGE AT 4NY8 OR HARRIS HILL GLIDER PORT. I WAS THE HIGHEST ONE AT 2700 FT MSL. I DEPARTED THE RIDGE AT 2700 FT MSL AND ENTERED DOWNWIND FOR A LNDG PATTERN. THIS ALT GAVE ME 1000 FT AGL FOR A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG. I REPEATEDLY CHKED THE PATTERN FOR TFC AND COUNTED 3 SAILPLANES ON THE RIDGE WHEN I DEPARTED. I FLEW A SLIGHTLY HIGH PATTERN (BECAUSE OF ROTOR DOWNWASH) AND LANDED NORMALLY AT APPROX MIDFIELD. IT WAS AT THIS POINT A FELLOW PLT APCHED AND TOLD ME THAT THE ASK-21 HAD FLOWN HIS ENTIRE PATTERN DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH MY SAILPLANE. I NEVER SAW THE ASK-21 BECAUSE HE WAS FLYING A MUCH LOWER PATTERN AND WAS IN MY BLIND SPOT THE ENTIRE TIME. AS IT TURNS OUT; WE DID IN FACT HAVE VERT AND LATERAL SEPARATION; AS THE ASK-21 LANDED ON THE W SIDE OF THE FIELD AND I LANDED IN THE GRASS CTR PORTION OF THE FIELD. STILL; THE PROX OF THE 2 SAILPLANES MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE AND I BELIEVED WORTHY OF THIS ASRS RPT. TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION; I BELIEVE STANDARDIZATION IN THE SAILPLANE PATTERN COULD BE EMPHASIZED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.