Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inability to find thermal lift. Contributing to the accident was the failure of a computer that provided glide information and vertical speed instrumentation as a result of an improperly routed electrical cable that caused a short in the electrical system and the pilot's lack of experience in the glider.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The glider pilot had been checked out in the glider the day of the accident and it was the first time she had flown this make and model. Approximately two hours into the flight, she smelled a rubber burning smell and all of her electronics ceased operating. She initiated a turn back to her departure airport but due to her lack of experience, she was unable to find a thermal and the glider continued to descend. During the forced, off-field landing, the glider impacted trees and desert brush. Post accident examination of the glider revealed that the cable supplying power to the removable data logger was found pinched against a metal computer port. This resulted in an electrical short and disabled the glide computer, global positioning system, and the vertical speed indicator.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10CA215