# Accident 20120729019399A: Smith Mike APPLEBAY ZUNI, Gregory, MI, July 29, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2012, 13:43 local time
- Place: Gregory, MI
- Airport: Richmond Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4419° N, 84.0644° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4419&lon=-84.0644&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1ZV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1ZV-2014-04-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith Mike APPLEBAY ZUNI (registry code 05675CB, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-mike-applebay-zuni) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH MIKE APPLEBAY ZUNI
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 168 total, 14 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA490) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120729019399A

## Narrative

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

AN EYE WITNESS STATED, "I OBSERVED THE ZUNI SAILPLANE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON A DOWNWIND LEG, HE WAS VERY LOW, MAYBE 125 - 150 ABOVE THE GROUND IN CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT, AND TRAVELING SOMEWHAT SLOWLY. THE GLIDER THEN APPEARED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN MORE AND BEGAN TO MAKE A TURN TO BASE LEG (EASTBOUND), BUT THE AIRSPEED WAS TOO LOW AND THE INSIDE (LEFT WING) STALLED, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN NEARLY VERTICAL AND MADE ABOUT A HALF TURN OF A SPIN BEFORE DISAPPEARING BEHIND TREES ABOUT 2000' SOUTHWEST FROM MY VANTAGE POINT". THE WRECK WAS LYING UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE NOSE POINTING SSE. THE NOSE WAS BROKEN OFF TO ONE FOOT BEHIND THE ITS VISUAL POINT AND THE INSTRUMENT POD AND VARIOUS WRECKAGE WAS SPILLED AROUND THE COCKPIT SECTION.

## 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 CEN12LA490](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA490), Jul 29, 2012: Smith Applebay Zuni II (N1ZV), Gregory, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude and airspeed while turning to the base leg of the traffic pattern, which resulted in a stall/spin and impact with trees and terrain.

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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