# NTSB DEN85FTM03: Killian Briegleb BG-12B, N997, Heber City, UT, June 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 22, 1985, 18:10 local (Jun 23, 1985, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Heber City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.430976, -111.189155 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4310&lon=-111.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FTM03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16575/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FTM03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS A GEORGE KILLIAN/BRIEGLEB BG-12B, EXPERIMENTAL, HOME BUILT GLIDER. AN OWNER REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD COME FROM NEW MEXICO TO BUY THE GLIDER. AFTER SPENDING ABOUT 3 HRS IN FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING, THE PLT WENT ON HIS 1ST FLT WHICH WAS UNEVENTFUL. HE THEN WENT ON A 2ND FLT WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 HR IN DURATION. AS THE GLIDER WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND & WAS AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL, IT ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & CRASHED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE GLIDER SMOOTHLY PITCHED OVER INTO A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITHOUT STALLING. AN EXAM OF THE FLT CONTROLS WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SYS WAS FOUND. A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PLT REVEALED NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N997 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: KILLIAN BRIEGLEB BG-12B (BRIEGLEB B)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0569
- Airframe hours: 234
- Engines: unknown UNK unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard L. Bean
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 22, 1985, 1 hours before
- Departed: 36U
- Destination: 36U
- Airport: 36U, Heber Valley, runway 21, 4,400 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; medical: unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 58 total, 2 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850622026969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850622026969A), Jun 22, 1985: Amtr BG12B, Heber City, UT, Destroyed. Aircraft pitched nose down on final and impacted ground. No control system malfunction. Possible suicide.

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.

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