Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Oregon
Aviation Accident Final 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/N63010
The glider pilot reported that, at 8,800 ft, he encountered a strong sink rate of about 400-600 ft per minute. He added that he was unable to find any thermals and decided to head towards a nearby airport to land. He soon realized that he would not be able to reach the airport and chose to land on a highway instead. During landing, the wings struck road signs and came to rest on the right side of the highway.
The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The glider pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
Findings
Aircraft
Altitude - Attain/maintain not possible (Cause)
Personnel issues
Flight planning/navigation - Pilot (Cause)
Environmental issues
Sign/marker - Contributed to outcome
Factual Information
History of Flight
Enroute-cruise
Loss of lift (Defining event)
Landing
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Location: Sunriver, OR
Accident Number: GAA18CA172
Date & Time: 03/20/2018, 1447 PDT
Registration: N63010
Aircraft: LITHUANIAN FACTORY OF AVIATION LAK 12
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of lift
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
The glider pilot reported that, at 8,800 ft, he encountered a strong sink rate of about 400-600 ft per minute. He added that he was unable to find any thermals and decided to head towards a nearby airport to land. He soon realized that he would not be able to reach the airport and chose to land on a highway instead. During landing, the wings struck road signs and came to rest on the right side of the highway.
The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 50, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/15/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/30/2016
Flight Time: (Estimated) 209 hours (Total, all aircraft), 45 hours (Total, this make and model), 112 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: LITHUANIAN FACTORY OF AVIATION
Registration: N63010
Model/Series: LAK 12 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Glider
Year of Manufacture: 1992
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 6228
Landing Gear Type: Retractable
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1433 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 0
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBDN, 3462 ft msl
Observation Time: 2155 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 33°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / -5°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 9 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots, 210°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: BEND, OR (BDN)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sunriver, OR
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time: 1313 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.863611, -121.407778
A LAK-12 glider crash-landed along Highway 97 near the Sunriver exit Tuesday afternoon, Deschutes County sheriff's deputies said.
The LAK-12 landed shortly before 3 p.m. near the South Century Drive exit to Sunriver, coming to a rest just off the shoulder of the southbound lanes and not blocking the road, Deschutes County sheriff's deputies said,
Deputies said the pilot was flying from Bend to Paulina Peak and back, was the glider's only occupant and was able to get out on his own, declining medical attention.
When he realized he would not be able to make it back to Bend, the pilot diverted to Sunriver Airport but didn't make it, deputies said.
Sheriff's Sgt. William Bailey said the pilot is a 50-year-old Bend resident and a licensed and certified glider pilot. He said the pilot landed along the highway shoulder and might have done so without incident, if one of the glider's long wings hadn't clipped a road sign along the highway.
Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the LAK-12 glider is owned by Henry Irvine of Bend.
There were no injuries, but traffic was affected at times as the glider was disassembled and removed from the scene in a trailer.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.ktvz.com
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