# NTSB LAX89LA248: Flug-Und Fahrzeugwerke Diament 16.5, N808VV, Marana, AZ, July 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1989, 13:59 local (20:59 UTC)
- Place: Marana, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.450134, -111.289375 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4501&lon=-111.2894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26453
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA248
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26453/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA248

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL RESULTING FROM AN UNCOMMANDED UPWARD PITCH SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND A WITNESS REPORTED THE GLIDER UNEXPECTEDLY PITCHED UP, STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF FROM A GLIDER PORT. A SUSPECTED ROD TO THE ELEVATOR WAS EXAMINED BY A METALLURGIST. HE CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR CORROSION AND THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF A SINGLE RAPID OVERLOAD. THERE WERE NO OTHER ANOMALIES FOUND WITH THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N808VV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N808VV-1990-07-20), registration cancelled 1990-07-20, S/N 037 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Flug-Und Fahrzeugwerke (FFA) DIAMENT 16.5 (DIAMENT 16)
- Registry model: [Flug & Fahrzeugwerke FFA HBV-DIAMANT 16.5](https://openairdocs.org/model/flug-fahrzeugwerke-ffa-hbv-diamant-16-5) (registry code 3550808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 037
- Airframe hours: 792
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: George Kulesza
- Registered owner: George G Corwell-Kulesza
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1989, 20 hours before
- Airport: El Tiro, runway 26R, 5,100 × 175 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 975 total, 38 in this make and model, 882 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890726025409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890726025409A), Jul 26, 1989: Farzwk DIAMANT165, Marana, AZ, Destroyed. Pitched up on a 45 degree angle on glider tow stalled and crashed..

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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