ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 45153
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 14 July 2003 |
| Time: | 16:50 |
| Type: |  Grob G103 Twin Astir |
| Owner/operator: | Half Astir Soaring Llc |
| Registration: | N27TA |
| MSN: | 3111 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3500 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Morgan, UT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Morgan, UT (42U) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The two glider pilots were returning to their point of departure (a high mountain airport). The lift on the return track had deteriorated, and they decided to do an off field landing. The two pilots identified a field for a landing, but then encountered some ridge lift. They continued flying, but the new found lift again deteriorated. They reversed course towards their initial off airport landing site. After reversing course, the glider experienced "a straight level shear," the airspeed dropped from 60 knots to 40 to 42 knots. The left wing dropped approximately 20 degrees, the nose dropped and the plane rotated to the left. This positioned the glider towards the mountain slope and "head on." The rear seat pilot (pilot in command) took control of the glider at this time. The glider impacted a ridge, crushing the composite nose into the front cockpit. The front seat pilot (second pilot), died in the hospital the following morning.
Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to fly low over a mountain ridge. Contributing factors included the wind shear, altitude/clearance, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20030716X01117&key=1
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 29-Nov-2009 08:54 | Alpine Flight | Updated |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 08-Dec-2017 18:54 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation