Fournier RF4D N7719

Summary

On 27 March 1982 at about 21:30 local time, a Fournier RF4D registered N7719, operated by John Robinson, was involved in an accident near Rialto, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

27 March 1982 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rialto, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Fournier RF4D

Registration

N7719

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

John Robinson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rialto → Rialto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX82FUG09

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HE WAS SOARING HIS "MOTOR-GLIDER" IN UPDRAFTS OF "THERMAL, SLOPE-WIND, AND WAVE" ORIGIN. HE REPORTED THAT THERMALS AND A WEAK SOUTHWEST WIND WERE PRODUCING LIFT ALONG RIDGES WITH WALLS THAT WERE FACING WEST, SOUTHWEST, AND SOUTH. REPORTEDLY, HE WAS FLYING IN THESE AREAS, IN AND OUT OF CANYONS, WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AT A FAST IDLE TO REDUCE DRAG. WHILE FLYING WESTWARD, HE ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF LIFT WHERE HE MANEUVERED AND CLIMBED FROM 2900 TO 3100 FT. FROM THERE, HE STARTED TO FOLLOW A WEST FACING WALL OF A NORTH CONNECTING RIDGE WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN, VERY STRONG, DOWNDRAFT. HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE AND TURNED LEFT TO FOLLOW A CANYON THAT DROPPED AWAY TO THE WEST, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A ROCKY OUTCROPPING AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 3000 FT MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.