Schleicher ASW-20 accident near Big Pine, CA
On July 3, 2005, a Schleicher ASW-20 (glider) was involved in an accident near Big Pine, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 3, 2005
- Place
- Big Pine, CA
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.969°N, 118.406°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050708X00965
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 3, 2005, about 1514 Pacific daylight time, a Schleicher ASW-20 glider, N31AP, collided with mountainous terrain in the Inyo National Park, about 15 nautical miles south-southwest of Big Pine, California, at 11,600 feet mean sea level (msl). The private pilot, also the registered owner of the glider, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot sustained fatal injuries; the glider was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot departed from the California City Airport, California City, California, about 1215, in a flight of six gliders, and planned to return that evening. In a written statement, a glider pilot flying in the group of six reported that he was the first to launch at 1200 and the accident pilot was the third to launch, about 1215. Prior to launch, it was determined that the first intended turn point would be Mount Whitney. The pilot reached Mount Whitney about 1420, and decided that the next turn point would be Coyote Flats. The pilot further stated that the lift was less than expected, so he reversed course about 6 miles south of Coyote Flats. At 1508, he was about 11,000 feet msl flying southbound, when the accident pilot passed him going northbound at 12,000 feet msl. They acknowledged each other and the pilot reported that the accident pilot sounded normal. The pilot surmised that this point was a few miles from the accident site and a few minutes prior to the accident. After 20 minutes had passed, the pilot expected to hear the accident pilot transmit a
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude and his decision to turn toward higher terrain.
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Browse: California · Schleicher 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.
