# NTSB SEA05LA114: Avia Stroitel AC-4B, N1198Z, Wenatchee, WA, June 11, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 2005, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Wenatchee, WA - Coordinates: 47.42361, -120.141944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4236&lon=-120.1419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61679 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61679/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot's instructor said that the student pilot had approximately 12 hours of flight experience over 18 training flights; he said that this was the student pilot's first flight in this make and model of aircraft. The student pilot was scheduled to fly a one hour flight. When he did not return, a search airplane departed and found the glider on the back side of a mountain ridge approximately 3 nautical miles from the airport. The tow-pilot that towed the glider airborne said that on the ground, the wind was variable from 240 degrees to 280 degrees at 11 to 13 knots. He further stated that the student "did a great job [on departure], he was in position all the time." The tow-pilot said that when he passed through 4,250 feet, the student released from the tow rope. He said that the "ridge lift" just northeast of the airport was "very good." ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2005, at an estimated 1430 Pacific daylight time, an Avia Stroitel AC-4B glider, N1198Z, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Wenatchee, Washington. The student pilot, the sole occupant in the aircraft, was fatally injured. Cascade Soaring Society, Inc., was operating the glider under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local solo instructional flight. The flight originated from Wenatchee, Washington, approximately 60 minutes before the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot's flight instructor said that the student pilot had approximately 12 hours of flight experience over 18 training flights; he said that this was the student pilot's first flight in this make and model of aircraft. The student pilot was scheduled to fly a one hour flight. When he did not return, a search airplane departed and found the glider on the back side of a mountain ridge approximately 3 nautical miles from the airport. The tow-pilot that towed the glider airborne said that on the ground, the wind was variable from 240 degrees to 280 degrees at 11 to 13 knots. He further stated that the student "did a great job [on departure], he was in position all the time." The tow-pilot said that when he passed through 4,250 feet, the student released from the tow rope. He said that the "ridge lift" just northeast of the airport was "very good." Another glider pilot, flying in the same area, reported that the winds at 6,000 to 7,000 feet were out of the west at 6 to 7 knots. The Douglas County Corner, from Wenatchee, Washington, ordered an autopsy to be done on the student pilot, which was completed on June 13, 2005. The Forensic Pathologist that performed the autopsy determined that the cause of death was multiple internal injuries due to blunt impact forces. The Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology test on the student pilot. According to CAMI's report (#200500130001), the blood samples that were tested for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles (ethanol), and drugs found negative results. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1198Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1198Z-2005-10-28), registration cancelled 2005-10-28, S/N 21, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Avia Stroitel AC-4B - Registry model: [AS+ AC 4](https://openairdocs.org/model/as-plus-ac-4) (registry code 05628R1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 021 - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cascade Soaring Society, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: EAT, Wenatchee, WA - Destination: EAT, Wenatchee, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: fatal; student; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12 total, 1 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: EAT, 3 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 20050611011239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050611011239A), Jun 11, 2005: Amtr AC4, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) A/c struck ground during attempt to reach pangborn field (eat) after aerial tow release northeast of eat. A/c struck ground LH wingtip first with… 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.