Summary
On March 20, 1995, a I.c.a. Brasov IS-28B2 (N51947) was involved in an incident near Edgewood, NM. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
On March 20, 1995, at 1417 MST, an I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 glider, N51947, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated on a personal flight by Albuquerque Soaring Club, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Moriarty, New Mexico, at 1310 MST. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported on his enclosed statement and in a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge that he departed at 1310 and "took an aero tow to 2,000 feet AGL and released." The pilot said he was maneuvering his glider in thermals for lift.
This incident is documented in NTSB report FTW95LA144. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N51947.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On March 20, 1995, at 1417 MST, an I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 glider, N51947, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated on a personal flight by Albuquerque Soaring Club, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Moriarty, New Mexico, at 1310 MST. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported on his enclosed statement and in a telephone interview with the investigator-in-charge that he departed at 1310 and "took an aero tow to 2,000 feet AGL and released." The pilot said he was maneuvering his glider in thermals for lift. He flew "good lift" to 3,000 feet above the ground before he entered an area of "heavy sink" (downdraft) and he lost 2,200 feet of altitude. He further related that only 3 minutes elapsed from his encounter with the "heavy sink" until he was on the ground. The closest airport was Sandia East, north of Edgewood, New Mexico. He was east of the field and a 20 knot head wind prevented him from reaching it. He picked a pasture for his secondary landing area but "decided to make a 180" turn to avoid hitting a house. Subsequently "during the turn my left wing contacted the ground and the glider slid to a stop" about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile from Sandia East airport.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW95LA144