Parker RS-15 SAILPLANE N15LQ

Summary

On 17 July 2010 at about 22:10 local time, a Parker RS-15 SAILPLANE registered N15LQ was involved in an accident near Marysvale, Utah, 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

17 July 2010 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Marysvale, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Junction Airport (U13)

Coordinates

38.4278, -112.3006

Aircraft

Parker RS-15 SAILPLANE

Registration

N15LQ

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Parowan → Parowan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

WPR10LA356

1 person died.

The glider's encounter with insufficient atmospheric lift to maintain soaring flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While returning from a flight with a group of other gliders, the accident pilot reported to another pilot flying in the group that his glider was losing a significant amount of altitude and that he would be diverting to another airport. The pilot subsequently reported that the glider lost additional altitude and that he might need to land in a field west of a nearby town. The wreckage was found the following day on a small plateau in an inverted position at the 7,800-foot level on the side of a slope. The debris field consisted of components of the glider, which were all contained near the main wreckage. Strong winds and lenticular clouds were reported near the area of the accident site. It is likely that the glider encountered insufficient atmospheric lift to maintain soaring flight, and the pilot was not able to maintain clearance from terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.