Dg Flugzeugbau DG 800B N800YG

Summary

On 25 April 2016 at about 00:06 local time, a Dg Flugzeugbau DG 800B registered N800YG was involved in an accident near Clements, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 April 2016 at 00:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Clements, California, United States

Coordinates

38.1978, -121.0767

Aircraft

Dg Flugzeugbau DG 800B

Registration

N800YG

Category

Glider

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Byron → Byron

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA096

Nobody was injured.

The motorglider pilot's decision to perform an in-flight engine start with insufficient altitude, which resulted in an off-airport landing and collision with trees after the engine did not start. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction by the engine restart procedures during a critical portion of the landing approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After gliding for about 2 ½ hours cross-country, the motorglider began to encounter reduced lift conditions. The private pilot intended to start the engine so that he could return to the departure airport under powered flight but also identified a nearby field for landing in case the engine did not start. As the glider overflew the field, the pilot extended the propeller and attempted three times to start the engine; however, it did not start. With limited altitude, increased drag from the propeller and mast, and an unanticipated headwind, the glider was unable to reach the landing target and impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and the engine started on the third attempt. The pilot stated that he had used a tow plane for departure on the accident flight and that the engine had not been operated for about 5 months leading up to the accident. He further stated that, in his experience, motorgliders could be prone to engine starting difficulties, especially after a period of nonuse. The pilot attempted the engine start at an altitude below that recommended by the glider manufacturer, thereby reducing his margin for error when the engine did not start. He also reported that he spent too much time and attention on starting the engine and not enough on landing. Had the pilot initiated the engine start procedure at a higher altitude, he likely would have had sufficient time to complete the emergency starting and off-airport landing procedures, restow the propeller, and focus on the task of the off-airport landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.