# NTSB LAX74DUG25: Whigham GW-4, N3705, Elsinore, CA, November 23, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 23, 1973
- Place: Elsinore, CA · ELSINORE, CA
- Location: 33.6681° N, 117.3273° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Elsinore, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6681&lon=-117.3273&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74DUG25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74DUG25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4047  73/11/23 NR.ELSINORE,CALIF     WHIGHAM GW-4        CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1400                    N3705               PX-  0  0  0  EXPERIMENTATION           AGE 51, 5505 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            8 IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ELSINORE,CALIF               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLUTTER
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
        REMARKS- GLIDER EXPERIMENTAL FLT. BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE,PLT BAILED OUT OK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3705](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3705-1997-09-13), registration cancelled 1997-09-13, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WHIGHAM GW-4
- Registry model: [Whigham GW-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/whigham-gw-4) (registry code 0562981) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19731123039519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731123039519A), Nov 23, 1973: Amtr 0562981, Elsinore, CA, Substantial damage. Glider experimental flt. Became uncontrollable,plt bailed out ok.

## Other investigations on N3705 (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 LAX92LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA290), Jul 9, 1992: Whigham GW-4 (N3705), Warner Springs, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFTS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

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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