ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 355507
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| Date: | Thursday 24 July 1997 |
| Time: | 17:08 LT |
| Type: | Centrair ASW20F |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N120MJ |
| MSN: | 20188 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1978 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Minden, NV -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | (KMEV) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot of a glider said that as he was returning to the airport, he encountered strong turbulence and downdrafts, and concluded that he would not be able to safely reach the runway. He selected a field, and as he got closer, realized that he had too much energy for a straight-in approach and not enough for a pattern. The pilot said he then deployed some drag devices and began making S-turns. Reportedly, the glider encountered a downdraft and touched down hard with a very high sink rate. Ground witnesses reported that very gusty winds existed at the time of the landing. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the glider and noted that no discrepancies were found.
Probable Cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision and subsequent encounter with gusty winds and strong downdrafts, which precluded reaching the airport and induced an unrecoverable high sink rate during an off-airport landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX97LA258
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Mar-2024 12:41 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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