# NTSB LAX81FUQ20: Cherokee II, N3311, Valyermo, CA, May 2, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 2, 1981
- Place: Valyermo, CA · VALYERMO, CA
- Location: 34.4461° N, 117.8523° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Valyermo, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4461&lon=-117.8523&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125229
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FUQ20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUQ20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2441   81/5/2  NR.VALYERMO,CA        CHEROKEE II         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 72, 52 TOTAL
        TIME - 1315                    N3311               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 0 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CRYSTAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         VALYERMO,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- GLIDER PITCHED UP BREAKING TOW ROPE,WINGS SEPD.PRE-EXISTING CRACKS IN WOOD SPARS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3311](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3311-1993-08-04), registration cancelled 1993-08-04, S/N 0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHEROKEE II
- Registry model: [Cherokee II](https://openairdocs.org/model/cherokee-ii) (registry code 40601JR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Crystal

## 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 19810502021589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810502021589A), May 2, 1981: Amtrha CHEROKEE2, Valyermo, CA, Destroyed. As glider released it pitched up suddenly and right wing seperated. This was first flight for pilot in this glider.

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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