# NTSB SEA81DYP17: Schleicher KA8B, N4780T, Wenatchee, WA, May 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 17, 1981
- Place: Wenatchee, WA · WENATCHEE, WA
- Location: 47.4360° N, 120.3293° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wenatchee, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4360&lon=-120.3293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81DYP17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81DYP17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0814  81/5/17  NR.WENATCHEE,WA       SCHLEICHER KA8B     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, 902
        TIME - 1500                    N4780T              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 5 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         WENATCHEE,WA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 7000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           70                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LOST LIFT RIDGE SOARING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4780T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4780T-1994-08-03), registration cancelled 1994-08-03, S/N 8318SH (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER KA8B
- Registry model: [Schleicher K 8 B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-k-8-b) (registry code 3801563) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810517026659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810517026659A), May 17, 1981: Luscom 8B, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. Glider pilot hit ridge and crashed during soaring operation.

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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