Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX92LA192

BISHOP, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N97DT

Laister NUGGET

Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED EXTREME TURBULENCE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE TURBULENCE BUCKLED THE WINGS, CRACKED THE FUSELAGE, EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND RENDERED THE FLAPS INOPERATIVE. THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PLAN THE NO-FLAP LANDING APPROACH AND INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR. THE GLIDER OVERSHOT THE POINT OF INTENDED LANDING AND SLID INTO A RAVINE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED NO-FLAP LANDING APPROACH; FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST; AND INADVERTENT GEAR RETRACTION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE BUCKLING OF THE WING SKIN, CRACKING OF THE FUSELAGE AND THE INOPERATIVE FLAPS.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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