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19970816022569A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Laistr LP-49 · North Plains, OR · August 16, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
August 16, 1997 · 16:30 local
Place
North Plains, OR
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N40NH
NTSB investigation
NTSBSEA97LA190
Reported as
Laistr LP49
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
350 total55 in this make and model28 in the last 90 days
N40NHRegistration cancelled Aug 6, 2013 · Laister Sailplane Products LP-49S/N 29 · Built 1971Airframe modelLaister Sailplane Products LP-49Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft landed off field, clipped a wing, and flipped over. (.4) on AUGUST16, 1997, about 1630 pacific daylight time, N40NH, a laister LP-49 glider, registered to the owner/pilot, collided with terrain during landing in North Plains, Oregon, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from North Plains about 1515 and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to a federal aviation administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector from hillsboro, Oregon, the pilot was attempting to land back at the glideport, but was forced to land in an open field located about one-quarter mile away. During the landing, the glider impacted terrain, tumbled, and was substantially damaged. According to a written statement (attached) sent to the safety board, the pilot stated that he "...should have...selected appropriate land-out field when (altitude above the ground) reached 1500 (feet). Instead, pilot attempted to reach "home" field." The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT LANDED OFF FIELD, CLIPPED A WING, AND FLIPPED OVER. (.4) ON AUGUST16, 1997, ABOUT 1630 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, N40NH, A LAISTER LP-49 GLIDER, REGISTERED TO THE OWNER/PILOT, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING LANDING IN NORTH PLAINS, OREGON, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM NORTH PLAINS ABOUT 1515 AND WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR 91. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR FROM HILLSBORO, OREGON, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND BACK AT THE GLIDEPORT, BUT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD LOCATED ABOUT ONE-QUARTER MILE AWAY. DURING THE LANDING, THE GLIDER IMPACTED TERRAIN, TUMBLED, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO A WRITTEN STATEMENT (ATTACHED) SENT TO THE SAFETY BOARD, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE "...SHOULD HAVE...SELECTED APPROPRIATE LAND-OUT FIELD WHEN (ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND) REACHED 1500 (FEET). INSTEAD, PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REACH "HOME" FIELD." THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA97LA190Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNorth Plains, ORThe pilot's selection of an inadequate landing site, and his failure to adequately plan his return glide back to his home gliderport. A factor contributing to the accident was rough terrain.Aug 16, 1997 · Substantial damage