Whigham GW-4 N3705
9 July 1992 · Warner Springs, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 July 1992 at about 20:20 local time, a Whigham GW-4 registered N3705, operated by Waters, John B., was involved in an accident near Warner Springs, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Warner Springs, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.2810, -116.5991
- Aircraft
- Whigham GW-4
- Registration
- N3705
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Waters, John B.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92LA290
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFTS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, 7 MILES NORTH OF THE GLIDERPORT, THE GLIDER FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED STRONG DOWN DRAFTS. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TOWARDS THE GLIDERPORT, BUT ENCOUNTERED STRONGER DOWNDRAFTS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE RIDGE. THERE IS NO RECORD THAT THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Whigham GW-4 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1973 | Whigham GW-4 | Elsinore, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |