# NTSB FTW95LA144: I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2, N51947, Edgewood, NM, March 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 1995, 14:17 local (21:17 UTC) - Place: Edgewood, NM - Coordinates: 35.08073, -106.169128 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0807&lon=-106.1691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19375/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA144 ## Probable cause THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis THE GLIDER PILOT ENTERED 'HEAVY SINK' (DOWNDRAFT) SIXTY THREE MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF. THE PILOT SELECTED SANDIA EAST AIRPORT WHICH IS 12 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF HIS DEPARTURE POINT FOR LANDING, BUT, COULD NOT REACH IT DUE TO 20 KNOT HEAD WINDS. HE SELECTED A PASTURE FOR HIS SECONDARY LANDING SITE, BUT THERE WAS A HOUSE IN THE WAY. DURING A 180 DEGREE TURN TO MISS THE HOUSE, HIS LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER SLID TO A STOP. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 1995, at 1417 MST, an I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 glider, N51947, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated on a personal flight by Albuquerque Soaring Club, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Moriarty, New Mexico, at 1310 MST. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported on his enclosed statement and in a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge that he departed at 1310 and "took an aero tow to 2,000 feet AGL and released." The pilot said he was maneuvering his glider in thermals for lift. He flew "good lift" to 3,000 feet above the ground before he entered an area of "heavy sink" (downdraft) and he lost 2,200 feet of altitude. He further related that only 3 minutes elapsed from his encounter with the "heavy sink" until he was on the ground. The closest airport was Sandia East, north of Edgewood, New Mexico. He was east of the field and a 20 knot head wind prevented him from reaching it. He picked a pasture for his secondary landing area but "decided to make a 180" turn to avoid hitting a house. Subsequently "during the turn my left wing contacted the ground and the glider slid to a stop" about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile from Sandia East airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51947](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51947-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N 81, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 - Registry model: [I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/i-c-a-brasov-is-28b2) (registry code 4490102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 81 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Albuquerque Soaring Club, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1995 - Departed: 0E0, MORIARTY, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 25 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F ## 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 19950320004879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950320004879A), Mar 20, 1995: Brasov IS28B2, Edgewood, NM, Substantial damage. Entered area of high sink. Unable to recover or make nearby airport due to headwind. Ground looped in a pasture. ## Other investigations on N51947 (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 FTW81DQA28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DQA28), May 2, 1981: Ica Brasov IS29D2 (N51947), Moriarty, NM, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.