OpenAirDocs.org

20050703015259A

Accident · Destroyed
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Schler ASW-20 · Bishop, CA · July 3, 2005

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
July 3, 2005 · 15:15 local
Place
Bishop, CA
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N31AP
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX05LA224
Reported as
Schler ASW20
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
1
Pilot’s flight hours
0 total500 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days
N31APRegistration cancelled Jul 18, 2017 · Schleicher ASW-20S/N 20369 · Built 1980Airframe modelSchleicher ASW-20Engine 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.

(-23) On July 3, 2005, about 1530 pacific daylight time, a schliecher ASW-20 glider, N31AP, collided with mountainous terrain in the inyo national park, about 15 nautical miles south-southwest of big pine California, at 11,600 feet mean sea level (MSL). The private pilot, also the owner of the glider, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. The pilot sustained fatal injuries; the glider was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The glider departed from California city, California about 1245, in a flight of six gliders, and the pilot planned to return that evening. When the glider pilot didn't return to California city, a search effort was initiated by the glider pilot group that had returned to California city. After initial searches were unsuccessful, the inyo county search and rescue was notified. On July 4, 2005, at 1115 PST the wreckage was located in the mountainous terrain by the inyo county search and rescue personnel. This glider is in the experimental category used for exhibition and racing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 3, 2005, ABOUT 1530 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHLIECHER ASW-20 GLIDER, N31AP, COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE INYO NATIONAL PARK, ABOUT 15 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF BIG PINE CALIFORNIA, AT 11,600 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL). THE PRIVATE PILOT, ALSO THE OWNER OF THE GLIDER, WAS OPERATING IT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES; THE GLIDER WAS DESTROYED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE GLIDER DEPARTED FROM CALIFORNIA CITY, CALIFORNIA ABOUT 1245, IN A FLIGHT OF SIX GLIDERS, AND THE PILOT PLANNED TO RETURN THAT EVENING. WHEN THE GLIDER PILOT DIDN'T RETURN TO CALIFORNIA CITY, A SEARCH EFFORT WAS INITIATED BY THE GLIDER PILOT GROUP THAT HAD RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA CITY. AFTER INITIAL SEARCHES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, THE INYO COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS NOTIFIED. ON JULY 4, 2005, AT 1115 PST THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BY THE INYO COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL. THIS GLIDER IS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY USED FOR EXHIBITION AND RACING.

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 LAX05LA224Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBig Pine, CAthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude and his decision to turn toward higher terrain.Jul 3, 2005 · Destroyed

Other reports on N31AP · 2

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

Accident 20030316004739ATo Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) · San Diego, CA(-23) Pilot experienced an aborted takeoff during a "winch" launch. Pilot stated that he winch was not operating properly which forced him to make an early break. Pilot ended up making a forced landing due to lack of altitude and flying speed. No injuries.…Mar 16, 2003 · Substantial damageAccident 19910406023219ATakeoff Ground Roll · Julian, CAOn glider tow wind blew glider to edge of runway. Wing caught bushes. Tow rope broke. Glider towplane left runway.Apr 6, 1991 · Substantial damage