- Date
- May 1, 1983, 11:27 local (18:27 UTC)
- Place
- California City, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N21RBSchempp-Hirth Nimbus II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830501016719A
- Case key
- 23448
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses reported that during takeoff, the glider was being towed when it released at aprx 300 ft AGL & entered a left turn. The turn continued, the bank angle increased & the glider subsequently hit the ground aprx 1 mile southwest of the arpt. Impact occurred in a steep nose down, left wing low attitude. Witnesses reported that a right turn was the standard procedure after a release from a tow. No evidence of a preimpact malfunction of the glider was found, but its tow hook was not located. The tow rope & tow hook on the tow plane were examined & no discrepancies were noted. Results of medical & toxicalogical exams were negative.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N21RB
- Reported as
- Schempp-Hirth Nimbus II
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 14
- Airframe hours
- 435
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Frank E Sentyrz, Jr
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1983
- Airport
- L71 · California City, runway 24
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 555 total · 137 in this make and model · 475 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EDW, 16 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.