# NTSB LAX84FA315: Bölkow Phoebus A-1, N7700, Llano, CA, May 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1984, 10:46 local (17:46 UTC)
- Place: Llano, CA
- Coordinates: 34.489814, -117.770042 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4898&lon=-117.7700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA315
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23959/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA315

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

CIRCLING IN LIFT NEAR A HIGH RIDGE THE SAILPLANE ENCOUNTERED WHAT THE PLT REFERRED TO AS WIND SHEAR.  LOSING CONTROL, THE SAILPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7700](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7700-1985-01-24), registration cancelled 1985-01-24, S/N 774 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bölkow PHOEBUS A-1 (PHOEBUS A-)
- Registry model: [Bolkow PHOEBUS A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bolkow-phoebus-a-1) (registry code 1403008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 774
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Chester C. Lyman
- Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1984, 11 hours before
- Departed: 101, LLANO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,030 total, 1,030 in this make and model, 993 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 30 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 19840526019259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840526019259A), May 26, 1984: Entwic PHOEBUSA1, Llano, CA, Destroyed. Pilot reported violent turbulence caused a stall and spin. Glider struck trees ona mountain downslope.

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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