# NTSB SEA88FA131: Applebay Zuni 2, N14XZ, Wellington, NV, July 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1988, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Wellington, NV
- Coordinates: 38.699443, -119.320648 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6994&lon=-119.3206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40728
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40728/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA131

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT (WITH ONLY 13 HRS FLT TIME IN THE HI PERFORMANCE SAILPLANE) TOOK OFF AT 1330 PDT. PSN RPRTS WITH HER GND CREW WERE NORMAL UNTIL 1630, THEN ANOTHER PLT OFFERED TO RELAY MESSAGES. AFTER CTCG HER GND CREW, THE OTR PLT TRIED CALLING HER BACK AT APRX 1645, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, THE WRECKAGE WAS FND THE NEXT DAY AT 0955, SCATTEREDOVR A WIDE AREA ON MTN/HILLY TRRN. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT BREAKUP. THE RGT WING HAD FAILED AT THE OUTBOARD END OF THE FLAP; THE OUTBOARD PORTION WAS FND APRX 500' WEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE LEFT WING HAD FAILED IN THE SAME AREA& ITS MAIN SPAR HAD FAILED AT THE WING ROOT. FRACTURES WERE TYPICAL OF POSITIVE OVERLOAD WITH NO PREEXISTING FATIGUE. HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS FND APRX 1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PLT HAD BAILED OUT, BUT HADHIT THE GND BEFORE THE CHUTE WAS FULLY DEPLOYED. THE CHUTE WAS LAST PACKED ON 2/4/88. TOWERING CUMULUS CLDS WERE RPRTD 34 MI WEST AT LAKE TAHOE. ANOTHER PLT IN THE VCNTY MADE A PRCNTRY LNDG DUE TO TSTM, RAIN, TURBC, & GUSTY WIND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14XZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14XZ-2012-07-30), registration cancelled 2012-07-30, S/N 14, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: APPLEBAY ZUNI 2
- Registry model: [Applebay Sailplanes ZUNI](https://openairdocs.org/model/applebay-sailplanes-zuni) (registry code 0130202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 14
- Airframe hours: 65
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Diane E. Weidenhammer
- Registered owner: Stephaen D. Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1988, 19 hours before
- Departed: MEV, MINDEN, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 231 total, 13 in this make and model, 132 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL, 34 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 19880716026679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880716026679A), Jul 16, 1988: Amtr ZUNI, Wellington, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Glider came apart in flight. Parachute partially deployed, pilot on oxygen. Thunderstorms nearby.

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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