Schweizer 2-32 accident near Warner Springs, CA
On October 11, 1997, a Schweizer 2-32 (glider) was involved in an accident near Warner Springs, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 11, 1997
- Place
- Warner Springs, CA
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 2-32 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.281°N, 116.600°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09044
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 10, 1997, about 1700 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 2-32, N242DB, operated by Sky Sailing Airport, was substantially damaged during a passenger flight near Warner Springs, California. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, one passenger received serious injuries, and the second passenger received minor injuries. The sailplane departed Warner Springs about 1625 by an airplane tow to a point near Ranchita, California, where it was released at 8,000 feet msl. The sailplane was to remain aloft for a 40-minute scenic flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the time of departure. The sailplane failed to return to Warner Springs during the allotted time and a search was initiated. It was located the next day on Hot Springs Mountain in the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation. According to the passenger statement, they reached an altitude of 14,000 feel msl. They stated at the end of the flight the pilot descended through the clouds. They collided with mountainous terrain about 6,000 feel msl. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The certificated commercial glider pilot had accumulated about 6,636 total glider flight hours. The pilot had flown three previous flights on the day of the accident for a total flight time of 1:20 minutes. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Examination of the aircraft logbook revealed that the last annual inspection occurred on November 28, 1996. Excerpts from the log are included in this report. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The closest official weather reporting facility was located at NAS Miramar. At 1655, it was reporting: winds 250 de
Probable cause
the pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions after inadvertently encountering mountain wave and associated downdraft conditions. The obscuration and high/mountainous terrain were related factors.
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Browse: California · Schweizer aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
