20180522005799A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER · Lookout Pass, MT · May 22, 2018

Date: May 22, 2018 · 14:20 local
Place: Lookout Pass, MT
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N66GL
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR18LA145
Reported as: Sportavia Putzer RF5B Sperber
Reported engine: Limbach 1700E
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 28,000 total35 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N66GLRegistration cancelled Sep 13, 2019 · Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBERS/N 51043 · Built 1974 Airframe modelSportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER Engine modelLimbach 1700EReciprocating

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.

On may 22, 2018, at 1448 MDT. A Sportavia Putzer glider, crashed onto highway 90 on the Montana state side, while enroute to seattle Washington. Visual meterological conditions prevailed at the time. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but was destroyed during removal. The pilot received some minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

ON MAY 22, 2018, AT 1448 MDT. A SPORTAVIA PUTZER GLIDER, CRASHED ONTO HIGHWAY 90 ON THE MONTANA STATE SIDE, WHILE ENROUTE TO SEATTLE WASHINGTON. VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT WAS DESTROYED DURING REMOVAL. THE PILOT RECEIVED SOME MINOR INJURIES.

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 WPR18LA145Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLookout Pass, MTThe pilot’s improper decision to continue flight toward rising terrain after the engine overheated, which necessitated a precautionary landing when the motorglider could not maintain altitude in downdrafts.May 22, 2018 · Substantial damage