# NTSB LAX83FA242: Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus, N184N, Bridgeport, CA, May 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1983, 15:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Bridgeport, CA
- Coordinates: 38.269512, -119.330528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2695&lon=-119.3305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23453
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23453/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA242

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, cruise
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - wing,wingtip - separation (contributing factor)
- Midair collision, cruise
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

TWO SCHEMPP-HIRTH GLIDERS, N184N & N6482, WERE BEING FLOWN IN A X-COUNTRY CONTEST ALONG A TRIANGULAR COURSE. THE COURSE STARTED AT MINDEN, NV & WENT TO SCHURZ, NV & BRIDGEPORT, CA, THEN BACK TO MINDEN. THE PLTS OF BOTH GLIDERS HAD PARTICIPATED IN CONTESTS FOR OVER 10 YRS & WERE GOOD FRIENDS. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE 2 GLIDERS FLYING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ALONG THE ROUTE NEAR THE BRIDGEPORT RESERNOIR. THE PLT OF N184N SAID THAT HE SAW N6482 ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE HIM WHILE BOTH WERE IN A THERMAL. HE SAID THAT N6482 LEFT THE THERMAL AT ABOUT 15,500 FT. HE (N184N) MADE ANOTHER TURN IN THE THERMAL, THEN LEFT IT TO CONTINUE TOWARD BRIDGEPORT. THE PLT OF N184N SAID THAT WHEN HE LEFT THE THERMAL, HE DID NOT SEE N6482 UNTIL SOMETIME LATER, JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE IMPACT. HE REPORTED THAT N6482 CONVERGED FROM N184N'S 8 O'CLOCK POSITIN. AFTER IMPACT, N6482 ENTERED  A DESCENT & CRASHED IN A HILLY WOODED AREA. THE LEFT WING TIP OF N184N SEPARATED & THE CANOPY WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LAND AT BRIDGEPORT.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

TWO SCHEMPP-HIRTH GLIDERS, N184N & N6482, WERE BEING FLOWN IN A X-COUNTRY CONTEST ALONG A TRIANGULAR COURSE. THE COURSE STARTED AT MINDEN, NV & WENT TO SCHURZ, NV & BRIDGEPORT, CA, THEN BACK TO MINDEN. THE PLTS OF BOTH GLIDERS HAD PARTICIPATED IN CONTESTS FOR OVER 10 YRS & WERE GOOD FRIENDS. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE 2 GLIDERS FLYING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ALONG THE ROUTE NEAR THE BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR. THE PLT OF N184N SAID THAT HE SAW N6482 ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE HIM WHILE BOTH WERE IN A THERMAL. HE SAID THAT N6482 LEFT THE THERMAL AT ABOUT 15,500 FT. HE (N184N) MADE ANOTHER TURN IN THE THERMAL, THEN LEFT IT TO CONTINUE TOWARD BRIDGEPORT. THE PLT OF N184N SAID THAT WHEN HE LEFT THE THERMAL, HE DID NOT SEE N6482 UNTIL SOMETIME LATER, JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE IMPACT. HE REPORTED THAT N6482 CONVERGED FROM N184N'S 8 O'CLOCK POSITION. AFTER IMPACT, N6482 ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED IN A HILLY WOODED AREA. THE LEFT WING TIP OF N184N SEPARATED & THE CANOPY WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LAND AT BRIDGEPORT.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N184N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N184N), registered now, S/N 9, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (STANDARD C)
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-standard-cirrus) (registry code 38019VE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 9
- Airframe hours: 1534
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Richard Cook
- Registered owner: Patricia M. Cook
- Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1982, 76 hours before
- Departed: MEV, MINDEN, NV
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N6482 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH STANDARD CIRRUS (STANDARD C)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 123
- Airframe hours: 722
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Hugo B. Fischer
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1983, 12 hours before
- Departed: MEV, MINDEN, NV
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N184N; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 2,581 total, 1,530 in this make and model, 2,524 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N6482; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,425 total, 720 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Observed at: MEV, 49 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830522075432A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830522075432A), May 22, 1983: Sphrth CIRRUSSTD, Bridgeport, CA, Substantial damage. Another glider N6482 collided with his aircraft at 13000 ft. both were in a crosscountry race. Did not see approach
- [Accident 19830522075431A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830522075431A), May 22, 1983: Sphrth CIRRUSSTD, Bridgeport, CA, Destroyed. Collided with another crosscountry glider at 13000 feet. May have been looking inside aircraft. Spun out of control.

## Other investigations on N184N (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 OAK74DVG57](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVG57), May 11, 1974: Schempp ST CIR (N184N), Kelseyville, CA, substantial damage

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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