- Date
- March 15, 2014, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wrightwood, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N624RMDG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140315003469A
- Case key
- 88930
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to maneuver the glider where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, resulting in an off airport landing.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to take his cousin, the sole passenger, around the local ski area. After departure, the glider was towed to about 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and adjacent to the ski area. The pilot maneuvered the glider in a 300-degree turn to the right and realized that he was at a lower altitude than the ridge. He continued toward the ridge in an effort to gain lift off of the canyons. As the glider continued to lose altitude, it descended below 6,000 feet msl and the pilot began to look for terrain that would be favorable for an off-airport landing. After deciding on a location, the pilot deployed the airbrakes and with the glider about 10 to 15 feet above ground level (agl), he intentionally stalled. The glider mushed into the ground with little horizontal speed. During the accident sequence the glider incurred substantial damage to the tail boom and wings. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to take his cousin, the sole passenger, around the local ski area. After departure, the glider was towed to about 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and adjacent to the ski area. The pilot maneuvered the glider in a 300-degree turn to the right and realized that he was at a lower altitude than the ridge. He continued toward the ridge in an effort to gain lift off of the canyons. As the glider continued to lose altitude, it descended below 6,000 feet msl and the pilot began to look for terrain that would be favorable for an off-airport landing. After deciding on a location, the pilot deployed the airbrakes and with the glider about 10 to 15 feet above ground level (agl), he intentionally stalled. The glider mushed into the ground with little horizontal speed. During the accident sequence the glider incurred substantial damage to the tail boom and wings. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N624RM
- Reported as
- DG Flugzeugbau DG 1000S (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 10-129S82
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 1,680
- Engine
- none
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Southern California Soaring Academy Inc
- Registered owner
- Southern California Soaring Academy Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 6, 2013
- Departed
- 46CN · Llano, CA
- Destination
- 46CN · Llano, CA
- Airport
- 46CN · Crystal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign, Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 225 total · 5 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 906 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.