# NTSB LAX81DUQ21: Slingsby T.59.D, N4GW, California Cty, CA, May 2, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 2, 1981
- Place: California Cty, CA · CALIFORNIA CTY, CA
- Location: 35.1258° N, 117.9859° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of California City, CA, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1258&lon=-117.9859&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 5, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUQ21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUQ21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1368   81/5/2    CALIFORNIA CTY,CA   SLINGSBY T.59.D     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 26, 1039
        TIME - 1200                    N4GW                PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 313 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CALIFORNIA CTY,CA           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     240
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- INADVERTENTLY LWRD FULL FLAPS,MISJUDGED WND VEL,UN CLR PWR LNS,LNDD IN ADJ FLD W X-WND GSTG 30KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4GW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SLINGSBY T.59.D
- 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 19810502021639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810502021639A), May 2, 1981: Slnsby T59D, California City, CA, Substantial damage. Glider pilot misjudged off-airport landing and made crosswind landing in field short of selected landing area.

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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