As+ (Russia) AS-4 N1995M

Summary

On 29 May 2000 at about 18:45 local time, a As+ (Russia) AS-4 registered N1995M, operated by Kramer, Craig J., was involved in an accident near Ephrata, Washington, 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.

Date

29 May 2000 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ephrata, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.2690, -119.5897

Aircraft

As+ (Russia) AS-4

Registration

N1995M

Category

Glider

Operator

Kramer, Craig J.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ephrata → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA00LA096

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper in-flight decision by not immediately seeking a safe landing site upon encountering the sink. A factor was the high vegetation (sagebrush).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After being towed several miles west of the departure airport and to 4,300 feet MSL, the glider pilot released from the towplane. Shortly thereafter, he encountered a sink and turned west and north, away from the airport, during which the sink conditions did not abate. Having lost 1,100 feet in altitude, the pilot decided that he could not return to the departure airport, and once again turned west and north in search of lift. He then turned towards a plowed field in which to land but, still encountering sink conditions, landed 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile short in sagebrush covered terrain. During the landing roll the glider ground looped to the right damaging the tail-boom. The pilot reported that he should have immediately turned back to the departure airport when the heavy sink was encountered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.