Sportine Aviacija LAK17 N290MH

Summary

On 7 August 2020 at about 19:30 local time, a Sportine Aviacija LAK17 registered N290MH, operated by Matt J Herron, was involved in an accident near Lake Port, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 August 2020 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Port, California, United States

Coordinates

38.9342, -122.8772

Aircraft

Sportine Aviacija LAK17

Registration

N290MH

Category

Glider

Year built

2020

Engines

1

Operator

Matt J Herron

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeport → Lakeport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA257

1 person died.

The pilot’s exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack during flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a local flight in his newly purchased self-launching motorglider in day visual meteorological conditions. Flight track data showed the glider complete multiple turns in the vicinity of the airport at various altitudes. About 20 minutes into the flight, flight track data ended near the accident site. The end of the data showed the glider in a short, steep climb before turning left and losing about 70 ft of altitude. The final data point showed the glider about 564 ft above ground level. There were no witnesses to the accident. Although the recorded data did not capture engine operation for the accident flight, examination of the wreckage indicated that the engine was operating at the time of impact. The pilot had over 1,600 hours of flight experience in gliders and about 4.5 hours in the accident glider. Although the flight track data did not show an aerodynamic stall causing the glider to descend to the ground, it is likely that one occurred. According to photos supplied by first responders, the glider was found in multiple sections scattered within about a 100 ft radius. In the immediate vicinity of the debris field and wreckage, trees and bushes were not damaged indicating that the glider was most likely in a nose low descent at the time of impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.