Plane Crash List

Glaser-Dirks DG 400/17 N567DA

23 September 1990 · Truckee, California, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 23 September 1990 at about 01:40 local time, a Glaser-Dirks DG 400/17 registered N567DA was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 01:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Truckee, California, United States
Nearest airport
Truckee-Tahoe (TRK)
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Glaser-Dirks DG 400/17
Registration
N567DA
Category
Glider
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX90DXQ05

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

THE UNCOMMANDED DEPLOYMENT OF THE RIGHT SPOILER SYSTEM DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF A SPRING PIN NOT FITTED TO THE QUICK DISCONNECT AS RECOMMENDED WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT LOSING CONTROL OF THE GLIDER DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF A SELF LAUNCHED POWERED GLIDER PERFORMED AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE SPOILER PRIOR TO LANDING. THE RIGHT HAND SPOILER REMAINED DEPLOYED AFTER RETRACTION RESULTING IN AN ASYMMETRICAL LIFT CONDITION. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE CONTROL QUICK DISCONNECT SPRING PIN HAD NOT BEEN FITTED INTO THE CONTROL HOLE AS RECOMMENDED WHICH RESULTED IN THE QUICK DISCONNECT TO THE SPOILER DISCONNECTING FROM THE RIGHT HAND SPOILER ROD END BALL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Glaser-Dirks DG-400 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
2 Feb 1987 Glaser-Dirks DG-400
N104MN
Dillingham, Hawaii, United States - Fatal 1
4 May 1986 Glaser-Dirks DG-400
N40Z
Longmont, Colorado, United States - Minor injuries -
14 Jun 1997 Glaser-Dirks DG-400
N321V
Weston, Oregon, United States - No injuries -
1 May 1999 Glaser-Dirks DG-400
N400FJ
New Milford, Connecticut, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
16 Jan 2009 Glaser-Dirks DG-400
N777WN
Volcano, Hawaii, United States Bigelow David L Fatal 1

All 6 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
15 Apr 1990 Cessna 180
N9394C
Soledad, California, United States - No injuries -
10 Oct 1990 Cessna 150
N68350
Riverside, California, United States PAR Flight No injuries -
17 Apr 1990 Piper PA46
N4387S
Paso Robles, California, United States Piper Aircraft Corp. No injuries -
7 Oct 1990 Cessna 182M
N70892
Bakersfield, California, United States - No injuries -
1 Apr 1990 Piper J-3
N7363H
Creston, California, United States - Minor injuries -
11 Oct 1990 Bell 47G4
N477JM
Merced, California, United States John W. Myers Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States