# Accident 20080504833519A: Sphrth NIMBUS4M, Ephrata, WA, May 4, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2008, 14:22 local time
- Place: Ephrata, WA
- Airport: Ephrata Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3081° N, 119.5167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3081&lon=-119.5167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N747JN, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N747JN) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-4M (registry code 3801967, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-nimbus-4m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Solo 2625 02 (registry code 58111, https://openairdocs.org/engine/solo-2625-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPHRTH NIMBUS4M
- Reported engine: SOLO 262502
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA08CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080504833519A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N747JN, A POWERED GLIDER, DEPARTED THE DESIGNATED GLIDER RUNWAY 21 AT EPHRATA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS PIC AND THE SOLE OCCUPANT. WHEN AIRBORNE THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUED TO DESCENT TO THE LEFT UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE GROUND TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITHIN THE AIRPORT AREA. THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED NOSE TO TAIL AND CAME TO A REST UPRIGHT, FACING SOUTH. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## 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 SEA08CA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA122), May 4, 2008: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4M (N747JN), Ephrata, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to connect the left aileron control rod during assembly.

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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