# Accident 20040401005962A: Glaser DG400, Oso, WA, April 1, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 2004, 17:00 local time
- Place: Oso, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.2397° N, 121.9000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2397&lon=-121.9000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N400WJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400WJ-2013-09-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Glaser-Dirks DG-400 (registry code 3802510, https://openairdocs.org/model/glaser-dirks-dg-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GLASER DG400
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA04LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040401005962A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N161D DEPARTED AWO AT 1130 PST ON A FLIGHT TO THE MOUNTAINS EAST OF AWO. N400WJ DEPARTED AWO AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 PST. THEY MET UP NEAR THE THREE FINGERS PEAKS AREA AND BOTH GLIDERS HAD ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT TO AWO BOTH GLIDERS WERE FLYING THE RIDGES AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET AGL. AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 THE GLIDERS COLLIDED 3 MILES SOUTH OF OSO, WASHINGTON. THE PILOT OF N161D STATED N400WJ WAS FLYING IN THE LEAD POSITION AND THEN MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT WHILE N161D CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE PILOT OF N161D WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A RADIO CALL TO N400WJ WHEN HE HEARD, "PAUL WATCH OUT." THE PILOT OF N161D LOOKED BACK OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER AND SAW N400WJ APPROACHING FROM BEHIND ON THE LEFT SIDE AT HIS ALTITUDE. N161D BANKED TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RIGT WING OF N400WJ. THE RIGHT WING OF N400WJ SEPARATED IN FLIGHT AND N161D LOST CONTROL. THE PILOT OF N161D SAFELY PARACHUTED TO THE GROUND WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT OF N400WJ WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN GLIDER IMPACTED GROUND.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N161D, Glasfl LIBELLE201B: [Accident 20040401005961A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040401005961A)

## 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 SEA04LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA063), Apr 2, 2004: Glaser-Dirks DG-400 (N400WJ), Oso, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot of the Glaser-Dirks (lead glider) failure to maintain clearance from the Glasflugel (trailing glider) resulting in a mid-air collision while maneuvering.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.