# NTSB LAX86MA186: LTV Aerospace Industries A7E, Warner Springs, CA, April 20, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 1986, 14:43 local (22:43 UTC) - Place: Warner Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.840629, -117.869308 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8406&lon=-117.8693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 25280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86MA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25280/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86MA186 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - checklist - poor, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, maneuvering - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - poor, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4 GLIDER AND AN LTV A7E JET COLLIDED OVER HOT SPRINGS MTN, NEAR WARNER SPRINGS, CA. THE A7E WAS ATTEMPTING A RAPID PULL UP AND THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING A NOSE DOWN, 30 DEG RIGHT TURN WHEN THEY COLLIDED. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLT RULES AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NEITHER PILOT WAS INJURED. THE GLIDER LEFT WING OUTBD 3 FT SECTION WAS SEVERED. THE A7E NOSE COWLING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE INGESTED EXTENSIVE FIBERGLASS MATERIAL. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE A7E WAS EXECUTING A SOUTHBOUND TURN ON VR 1257 AND WAS WITHIN THE ROUTE WIDTH (4NM); THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GAIN LIFT ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOT SPRINGS MTN AND WAS WITHIN VR 1257 ROUTE STRUCTURE. THE A7E PLT HAD INFORMED THE NECESSARY FLT SERV STATIONS THAT THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE; THE GLIDER PLT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE FLT SERV STATIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4 GLIDER AND AN LTV A7E JET COLLIDED OVER HOT SPRINGS MTN, NEAR WARNER SPRINGS, CA. THE A7E WAS ATTEMPTING A RAPID PULL UP AND THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING A NOSE DOWN, 30 DEG RIGHT TURN WHEN THEY COLLIDED. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLT RULES AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NEITHER PILOT WAS INJURED. THE GLIDER LEFT WING OUTBD 3 FT SECTION WAS SEVERED. THE A7E NOSE COWLING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE INGESTED EXTENSIVE FIBERGLASS MATERIAL. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE A7E WAS EXECUTING A SOUTHBOUND TURN ON VR 1257 AND WAS WITHIN THE ROUTE WIDTH (4 NM); THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GAIN LIFT ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOT SPRINGS MTN AND WAS WITHIN VR 1257 ROUTE STRUCTURE. THE A7E PLT HAD INFORMED THE NECESSARY FLT SERV STATIONS THAT THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE; THE GLIDER PLT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE FLT SERV STATIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: USN (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: LTV AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES A7E - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 160858 - Airframe hours: 3164 - Engines: ALLISON TF-41A-402D 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: United States Navy - Last inspection: Unknown, December 8, 1985, 96 hours before - Departed: NKX, SAN DIEGO, CA - Destination: LEMORE, CA - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: L20, Warner Springs, runway 24, 12,000 × 200 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N50EH (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 4134 - Airframe hours: 781 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James K. Garner & Stanley Foat - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 1986, 17 hours before - Departed: HMT, HEMET, CA - Airport: L20, Warner Springs, runway 25, 5,000 × 90 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft 1; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,171 total, 859 in this make and model, 1,115 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N50EH; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 755 total, 637 in this make and model, 707 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: NKX, 42 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 19860420061712A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860420061712A), Apr 20, 1986: Rolsch LS4, Warner Springs, CA, Substantial damage. Was struck by a us navy A7E that was on a low level training flight. 50EH lost 3 feet of left wing but landed ok. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.