# NTSB LAX84FA180: Maupin WOODSTOCK-I, N71W, California City, CA, February 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 13, 1984, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.15063, -117.920547 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1506&lon=-117.9205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23938
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23938/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA180

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude
  - weather condition - mountain wave
  - weather condition - clouds
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - physical impairment(hypoglycemia/diet), pilot in command
  - physical impairment(anoxia/hypoxia), pilot in command
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING FLT, THE GLIDER SUSTAINED AN IN-FLT FAILURE OF BOTH WINGS, THEN ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREEXISTING STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. THE GLIDER WAS EQUIPPED WITH A RECORDING BAROGRAPH. A BAROGRAPH TRACE SHOWED THAT THE GLIDER HAD BEEN AIRBORNE ABOUT 45 MIN & HAD STEP CLIMBED TO 16,500 FT. DURING THE LAST 5 MIN IT HAD DESCENDED 500 FT & CLIMBED 250 FT, THEN ENTERED A RAPID DESCENT (STRAIGHT LINE ON THE RECORDING) & CRASHED. OTHER GLIDER PLTS REPORTED THAT N71W WAS FLYING IN THE VICINITY OF LENTICULAR CLOUDS WITH BASES BETWEEN 14,000 & 18,000 FT. THEY REPORTED 'MILD WAVE CONDITIONS' WITH NO UNUSUALLY STRONG ROTOR. ONE PLT NOTED A PHENOMENON OF 'LENTICULAR JUMP', IN WHICH, THE CLOUD COULD GROW FASTER THAN A GLIDER COULD MOVE AWAY. N17W WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT FLT & DID NOT HAVE AN OXYGEN SYS INSTALLED. THE PLT WAS DIABETIC, BUT A FLT SURGEON'S FINDINGS CONCERNING HIS MEDICAL CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE INCONCLUSIVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71W-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N 1, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAUPIN WOODSTOCK-I (WOODSTOCK-)
- Registry model: [Maupin WOODSTOCK-I](https://openairdocs.org/model/maupin-woodstock-i) (registry code 05647Y3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 317
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jack A. Benedict
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1984, 57 hours before
- Departed: L71, CALIFORNIA CITY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 275 total, 167 in this make and model, 255 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 23 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 28 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840213003299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840213003299A), Feb 13, 1984: Amtr WOODSTOCK1, California City, CA, Destroyed. Pilot incapacitation due to severe diabetic condition most likely led to overspeed and separation of wings.

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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