Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Reno, Nevada
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N11DY
Location: Minden, NV
Accident Number: WPR16FA160
Date & Time: 08/07/2016, PDT
Registration: N11DY
Aircraft: AMS FLIGHT CARAT A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Unknown or undetermined
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 7, 2016, about 1216 Pacific daylight time, an experimental AMS Flight D O O Carat A motor glider, N11DY, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain about 7 nautical miles northeast of Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada. The private pilot was fatally injured. The motor glider was registered to and operated by the pilot, and the flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed MEV at 1204.
Recorded communications from the MEV common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) revealed a transmission from the accident pilot at 1204, during which he stated that he was departing from runway 34 and would be conducting a "right turn out" after takeoff. About 6 minutes later, the pilot indicated that he was 4 miles east of MEV, climbing through 6,500 ft, and stated that this was the "last call this frequency." No further transmissions were received from the glider.
Data obtained from an onboard GPS receiver were consistent with a 1204 departure from runway 34 and a right (eastbound) turn away from the airport. The glider climbed as it proceeded east for about 4 minutes. About 1211, the glider turned north-northeast and began a series of right 360° climbing turns from about 7,300 ft GPS altitude to about 8,500 ft GPS altitude, consistent with maneuvering in an area of thermal activity. About 1216, the glider assumed a southerly heading and continued on that heading until the last recorded data point at 1217:18, which was just south of the accident site. The last recorded GPS point was at 1217:03 and showed the glider at 7,841 ft over a location that was nearly coincident with the accident site (see Figure 1). No additional data were recovered. The manufacturer of the GPS indicated that about 1 minute of data could be lost in the device's volatile memory in the event of an abrupt loss of power.
Figure 1. Overview of GPS data
Certificate: Private
Age: 74, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: None
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/13/2002
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/22/2015
Flight Time: (Estimated) 333 hours (Total, all aircraft), 152 hours (Total, this make and model), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and glider. His most recent third-class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate was issued in March 2002 with the limitation that he must have available glasses for near vision. Glider operations do not require an FAA medical certificate. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated that he had about 333 total hours of flight experience of which about 152 hours were in the accident glider. His most recent flight review was completed on September 22, 2015. The pilot had recently relocated to Nevada, and review of his logbook indicated that he had about 10 hours of experience operating in the Minden area.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: AMS FLIGHT
Registration: N11DY
Model/Series: CARAT A NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Glider
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: CA008
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/20/2015, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1036 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 19 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 456.3 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Sauer
ELT: C91A installed, activated, aided in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: S1800-1 ES1C
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 54 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The single-seat, self-launching, composite-construction glider was manufactured in 2003 and registered to the pilot in January 2011. It was equipped with a Sauer S 1800-1-ES1C, 4-cylinder, 54-horsepower engine, an AMS Flight forward-folding propeller, and retractable main landing gear. The most recent condition inspection was completed on December 20, 2015, at a total aircraft time of 456.3 hours. An entry on August 3, 2016, indicated that the glider had accumulated 475 total aircraft hours.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMEV, 4726 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1215 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 257°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / -5°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: MINDEN, NV (MEV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: MINDEN, NV (MEV)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1204
Type of Airspace: Class G
The 1230 automated weather observation at MEV included wind from 030° at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 25°C, dew point -5°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury. The density altitude was about 7,300 ft mean sea level (msl).
An atmospheric sounding retrieved from a weather balloon launched near Reno, Nevada, about 30 nautical miles north of MEV, about 1600, depicted a dry atmosphere with temperature decreasing steadily with height below 15,000 ft. There were no temperature inversions in this layer. Weather radar depicted no pertinent reflectivity values in the area.
Airport Information
Airport: MINDEN-TAHOE (MEV)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 4731 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.027222, -119.603333
The accident site was located on a rocky hillside at an elevation about 6,050 ft msl about 7 nautical miles east-northeast of MEV. Although the glider came to rest in the vicinity of powerlines, there was no apparent indication that the glider contacted the lines before impacting terrain. All major components of the glider were accounted for at the site. There was an odor of fuel and evidence of fuel spillage at the site.
The fuselage shell was fractured or breached in several locations, including in the area of the cockpit and aft of the cockpit. Both wings remained attached at their roots and did not exhibit aft crushing damage. Each wing displayed several fractures along its span. The right aileron remained attached to the wing; the left aileron was collocated with the wing but separated. The aft fuselage was separated from the airframe, and the empennage was separated near the root of the vertical stabilizer. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer. The left side of the horizontal stabilizer and elevator were partially separated from the vertical stabilizer; the right side of the elevator was separated from the horizontal stabilizer; and the horizontal stabilizer was separated from the vertical stabilizer. The magneto and fuel pump switches were both found in the "off" positions. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit area to the flight controls through breaks in the control rods. The landing gear was retracted. The left wing air brake was stowed. The right wing air brake fairing was separated, and the brake was partially extended. The engine was partially separated from the airframe at its mounts, and the cowling was fracture-separated. The propeller was stowed; one blade remained intact, and the other was separated near the hub. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller flange, and compression was established on all four cylinders using the thumb method. The top spark plugs were removed from each cylinder and exhibited normal wear.
Medical Information
The Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office, Reno, Nevada, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The cause of death was listed as multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.
The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on specimens of the pilot. Testing was negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol. Diltiazem was detected in urine and aortic blood. Diltiazem is a prescription calcium channel blocker primarily used to treat high blood pressure. Use of this medication generally does not present a significant hazard for airmen.
Joseph H. Loewenhardt died on August 7th, 2016 at age 74 while doing what he liked most: soaring in his glider over Pine Nut Mountains, Nevada.
NTSB Identification: WPR16FA160
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 07, 2016 in Minden, NV
Aircraft: AMS FLIGHT CARAT A, registration: N11DY
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 7, 2016, at an unknown time, an experimental AMS Flight D O O Carat A motor glider, N11DY, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain about 7 nautical miles northeast of Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada. The private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed MEV at 1204 Pacific daylight time. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Recorded communications from the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) at MEV revealed a transmission from the accident pilot at 1204, during which he stated he was departing from runway 34 and would be conducting a "right turn out" after takeoff. About 6 minutes later, the pilot indicated that he was 4 miles east of MEV and climbing. No further transmissions were received from the glider.
The glider came to rest on a rocky hillside at an elevation of about 6,050 feet on a heading of about 340 degrees magnetic. All major components of the glider were accounted for at the site. The propeller was stowed, and the magneto and fuel pump switches were each found in the "off" position. The landing gear was retracted. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller flange, and cylinder compression was established.
The 1230 automated weather observation at MEV included wind from 030 at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 25 degrees C, dew point -5 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury.
MINDEN, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — A 74-year-old Minden man was found dead in a glider crash eight miles east of Minden Tahoe Airport on Sunday, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
Captain Dan Coverley confirmed in a statement that the sheriff's office had been notified by Nevada Highway Patrol of an emergency locator transmitter notification at about 2:50 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.
Nevada Civil Air Patrol, with assistance from the U.S. Air Force, located a crashed glider in the Pinenut Mountain Range.
The sheriff's office and the East Fork Fire Protection district found the wreckage of an AMS Carat Model A Power Glider and its pilot, who was dead on scene, Coverley said.
The pilot has been identified as Joseph N. Lowenhardt, 74, of Minden. He was the only person in the glider, according to Coverley.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash.
Story and video: http://mynews4.com
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