# Accident 19970616014279A: Sphrth NIMBUS3, Macdoel, CA, June 16, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 1997, 17:40 local time
- Place: Macdoel, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7395° N, 121.8899° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7395&lon=-121.8899&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4427M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4427M-2001-11-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 (registry code 3801960, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-nimbus-3-24-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPHRTH NIMBUS3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 414 total, 38 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA215) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970616014279A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

INSUFFICENT THERMAL LIFT. ELECTED DIRT FIELD LANDING. WING CLIPPED POWERLINES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA215), Jun 17, 1997: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3/24.5 (N4427M), Macdoel, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to see and avoid a set of power lines while making an off-airport landing due to a lack of lift.

## Other reports on N4427M (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20010623017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010623017219A), Jun 23, 2001: N4427M, Montague, CA, No damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land with some high winds. Winds at airport were gusting at 26 KTS. At approximately 10 feet AGL, a wind gust lifted the right…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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