Schleicher ASW-27B N271EC

Summary

On 19 June 2003 at about 19:32 local time, a Schleicher ASW-27B registered N271EC was involved in an accident near Valyermo, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 June 2003 at 19:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Valyermo, California, United States

Nearest airport

Crystal (L01)

Coordinates

34.4100, -117.8081

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW-27B

Registration

N271EC

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Llano → Jean

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03FA206

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance altitude and his delayed remedial action by not turning away from the ridge when a lack of lift became apparent..

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider impacted trees and mountainous terrain while trying to cross a ridgeline. The glider had released from the tow plane about 1 minute prior to the accident. The glider was equipped with a GPS Flight Data Recorder, which recorded the total duration of the flight as 6 minutes 28 seconds. The last data recorded was at an altitude of 5,941 feet mean sea level (msl), the ground speed was 59 mph. The last recorded location of the glider was 2,000 feet laterally, northwest of the accident site. The elevation at the accident site was 5,798 feet msl. No unusual or adverse weather conditions were reported in the vicinity. No preimpact malfunctions or failures were identified during examination of the wreckage. Lower terrain was located to the rear of the pilot's attempted flight track.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.