Aviation Crash Map

Wsk Pzl KR-03A N6644A

26 May 1993 · Avenal, California, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 26 May 1993 at about 21:45 local time, a Wsk Pzl KR-03A registered N6644A, operated by Kulbeth, Joseph, was involved in an accident near Avenal, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was 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 21:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Avenal, California, United States
Coordinates
35.8895, -120.0702
Aircraft
Wsk Pzl KR-03A
Registration
N6644A
Category
Glider
Operator
Kulbeth, Joseph
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX93LA228

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE GLIDER'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE DOWNDRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENTS WERE THE TURBULENCE AND THE POWERLINES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS WHILE RETURNING TO THE GLIDER PORT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE TURNING ONTO THE BASE LEG FOR THE LANDING THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT OBSERVED SOME POWERLINES AND DOVE THE GLIDER BENEATH THEM. WHILE DIRECTLY UNDER THE POWERLINES THE PILOT OBSERVED A 3-FT BARBEDWIRE FENCE. WHEN THE PILOT RAISED THE GLIDER'S PITCH ATTITUDE TO AVOID HITTING THE FENCE, THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING RAISED AND STRUCK THE POWERLINES. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ENCOUNTERING ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Jul 1993 Cessna 310H
N310HJ
Lancaster, California, United States Yehiem Konski Fatal 6
14 Nov 1993 Cessna 182
N5723B
Colusa, California, United States - No injuries -
20 Jan 1993 Cessna 172P
N53908
Sun City, California, United States Hiser Helicopters, Inc. Fatal 1
31 Jul 1993 Robinson R44
N445RH
El Monte, California, United States
no coordinates
Benjamin F. Venti, SR. Fatal 3
17 Nov 1993 Piper PA-38-112
N2346G
Fresno, California, United States - No injuries -
21 Jan 1993 Beechcraft A35
N595B
Tulare, California, United States Rent and Lease Programs Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States