Jonker Sailplanes (Pty) JS1-C N501WG

Summary

On 14 July 2014 at about 00:23 local time, a Jonker Sailplanes (Pty) JS1-C registered N501WG was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 2014 at 00:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Truckee, California, United States

Nearest airport

Truckee-Tahoe (TRK)

Coordinates

39.3264, -120.1306

Aircraft

Jonker Sailplanes (Pty) JS1-C

Registration

N501WG

Category

Glider

Year built

2013

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Truckee → Truckee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA292

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control in gusting wind conditions while on final approach to the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that following an uneventful flight, he checked the weather at his destination airport, noting wind was from 220 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The pilot initiated an approach to landing on runway 20, however, while on final approach, the glider began to descend rapidly and roll to the left. The pilot applied opposite control inputs and noted that the glider began to turn to the right prior to impacting terrain slightly downslope from the runway. Recorded weather observations at the airport about 23 minutes after the accident revealed that the wind was from 250 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.