# NTSB LAX99LA192: I.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2, N8217A, Tehachapi, CA, May 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 1999, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Tehachapi, CA - Location: 35.1430° N, 118.4460° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tehachapi, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1430&lon=-118.4460&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46476 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46476/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA192 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain a proper glide path due to an inadvertent encounter with an area of high sink rate conditions. The mountainous/hilly nature of the terrain which limited the pilot's selection of a landing site is a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - proper glidepath - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot said that he spoke with other pilots before the flight to determine the soaring conditions. The pilots he spoke with reported that the lift conditions were not great but were generally satisfactory. A glider instructor pilot told him that there were areas of lift and areas of sink out there, but that there shouldn't be a problem making the airport from where he was let go from the tow plane. The pilot stated that after release from the tow plane he experienced 'a little bit of lift and then a huge sink rate and couldn't make it over the ridge' that separated him from the airport. He realized that he would not make it back to the airport and attempted to make a forced landing southeast of the airport and collided with ground obstructions during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 1999, at 1225 hours Pacific daylight time, an I.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2, N8217A, sustained substantial damage when it made an off-field landing in an open field 5 miles southeast of the Mountain Valley Airport, Tehachapi, California. The glider, operated by Skylark North under 14 CFR Part 91, was rented by the pilot. The commercial glider pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Mountain Valley Airport, at 1200 the day of the accident for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were observed and no flight plan was filed. In a telephone interview with the Safety Board, the pilot said that he spoke with other pilots before the flight to determine the soaring conditions. The pilots he spoke with reported that the lift conditions were not great but were generally satisfactory. A glider instructor pilot told him that there were areas of lift and areas of sink out there, but that there shouldn't be a problem making the airport from where he was let go from the tow plane. The pilot stated that after release from the tow plane he experienced "a little bit of lift and then a huge sink rate and couldn't make it over the ridge" that separated him from the airport. He realized that he would not make it back to the airport and attempted to make a forced landing southeast of the airport and collided with ground obstructions during the landing roll. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8217A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8217A-2000-09-20), registration cancelled 2000-09-20, S/N 207 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: I.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2 - Registry model: [Ica Brasov IS-29D2](https://openairdocs.org/model/ica-brasov-is-29d2) (registry code 4490106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 207 - Airframe hours: 179 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jane Barrett, doing business as Skylark North - Registered owner: Robert J. Broadwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 22, 1998, 11 hours before - Departed: L94 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 8,025 total, 2 in this make and model, 7,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 15 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19990522005549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990522005549A), May 22, 1999: Brasov IS29D2, Tehachapi, CA, Substantial damage. Ica Brasov IS-29D2 glider took off, was attempting to return to the arpt, landed in a field, and came to rest in a ditch, other circumstances are unknown.… 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.