Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER N66GL

Summary

On 22 May 2018 at about 20:00 local time, a Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER registered N66GL was involved in an accident near Lookout Pass, Montana, 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.

Date

22 May 2018 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lookout Pass, Montana, United States

Coordinates

47.4561, -115.6972

Aircraft

Sportavia Putzer RF5B SPERBER

Registration

N66GL

Category

Glider

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Missoula → Kellogg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA145

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper decision to continue flight toward rising terrain after the engine overheated, which necessitated a precautionary landing when the motorglider could not maintain altitude in downdrafts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot reported that, during a cross-country flight and while climbing toward a mountain pass, the experimental, amateur-built motorglider's engine began to overheat. The pilot delayed the climb to allow the engine to cool down and continued toward the pass, which resulted in reduced terrain clearance. As the motorglider approached the pass, it encountered a downdraft, and the engine was unable to produce enough power to stop the descent. Due to the reduced altitude, the pilot realized that he would be unable to safely turn the glider around, so he executed a precautionary landing on a freeway. During the landing, the glider struck a freeway barrier. The pilot reported that, other than the engine overheating, there was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.