# NTSB GAA18CA172: Lithuanian Factory Of LAK 12, N63010, Sunriver, OR, March 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 20, 2018, 14:47 local (21:47 UTC) - Place: Sunriver, OR - Coordinates: 43.863609, -121.407775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8636&lon=-121.4078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96901/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96901 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA172 ## Probable cause The glider pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=1130839), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1130839), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=1130839), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=1130839), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1130839), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot reported that, at 8,800 ft, he encountered a strong sink rate of about 400-600 ft per minute. He added that he was unable to find any thermals and decided to head towards a nearby airport to land. He soon realized that he would not be able to reach the airport and chose to land on a highway instead. During landing, the wings struck road signs and came to rest on the right side of the highway. The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The glider pilot reported that, at 8,800 ft, he encountered a strong sink rate of about 400-600 ft per minute. He added that he was unable to find any thermals and decided to head towards a nearby airport to land. He soon realized that he would not be able to reach the airport and chose to land on a highway instead. During landing, the wings struck road signs and came to rest on the right side of the highway. The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63010](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63010-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 6228 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LITHUANIAN FACTORY OF AVIATION LAK 12 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Lithuanian Factory Of LAK-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/lithuanian-factory-of-lak-12) (registry code 1130839) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 6228 - Year built: 1992 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BDN, BEND, OR - Destination: Sunriver, OR - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 209 total, 45 in this make and model, 112 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KBDN, 17 nm away ## 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 20180320014609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180320014609A), Mar 20, 2018: Lithuanian Factory Of Aviation LAK-12, Sunriver, OR, Substantial damage. At approximately 8800 ft. pilot encountered sink. He was unable to find thermals and could not make it to nearest airport. Decided to land on roadway. Landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96901. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Aircraft Flight Data (item 2, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Flight%20Data-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.