# NTSB LAX85LA394: Glasflugel ST Liebelle 201B, N711DP, California City, CA, September 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 1, 1985, 17:15 local (Sep 2, 1985, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.149299, -117.919479 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1493&lon=-117.9195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24838
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA394
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24838/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA394

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE GLIDER LANDED OFF THE ARPT ON A ROAD AND GROUNDLOOPED AFTER COLLIDING WITH SHRUBBERY. THE PLT COMPLAINED OF ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT DURING THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N711DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711DP-2025-06-21), registration cancelled 2025-06-21, S/N 517, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GLASFLUGEL ST LIEBELLE 201B (ST LIEBELL)
- Registry model: [Glasflugel STD LIBELLE 201B](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-std-libelle-201b) (registry code 3800344) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 517
- Airframe hours: 349
- Engines: NONE NONE reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roger Grigsby
- Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1985, 29 hours before
- Departed: L71, CALIFORNIA CITY, CA
- Airport: L71, California  City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 1,426 total, 125 in this make and model, 1,253 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F

## 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 19850901045459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850901045459A), Sep 1, 1985: Glasfl 201BLIBELLE, California City, CA, Substantial damage. Forced landing on road after encountering heavy sink rate. Wing struck a shrub and aircraft ground looped.

## Other investigations on N711DP (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 OAK78DXQ44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DXQ44), Sep 5, 1978: Libelle 201B (N711DP), Chester, 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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