# NTSB LAX92LA192: Laister Nugget, N97DT, Bishop, CA, April 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1992, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Bishop, CA
- Coordinates: 36.830581, -118.240104 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8306&lon=-118.2401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27609
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27609/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA192

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED NO-FLAP LANDING APPROACH; FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST; AND INADVERTENT GEAR RETRACTION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE BUCKLING OF THE WING SKIN, CRACKING OF THE FUSELAGE AND THE INOPERATIVE FLAPS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - wing,skin - buckled (contributing factor)
  - fuselage,skin - cracked (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - flight control,flap - inoperative (contributing factor)
- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ravine

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED EXTREME TURBULENCE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE TURBULENCE BUCKLED THE WINGS, CRACKED THE FUSELAGE, EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND RENDERED THE FLAPS INOPERATIVE. THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PLAN THE NO-FLAP LANDING APPROACH AND INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR.  THE GLIDER OVERSHOT THE POINT OF INTENDED LANDING AND SLID INTO A RAVINE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97DT-2019-03-16), registration cancelled 2019-03-16, S/N N-14, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Laister NUGGET
- Registry model: [Laister Sailplane Products LP-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/laister-sailplane-products-lp-15) (registry code 5100108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: N-14
- Airframe hours: 353
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Reilly, John D.
- Registered owner: Reilly, John D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1991
- Departed: BIH
- Airport: BIH, Bishop, runway 16, 5,600 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; flight hours: 800 total, 8 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19920426011679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920426011679A), Apr 26, 1992: Laistr LP15, Bishop, CA, Substantial damage. Turbulence caused wing to buckle, fuselage cracked, flaps stuck up. Retracted gear instead of extend on landing.

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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