Rock Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rock Springs, Wyoming 82902
Sunday, August 14, 1994 13:23 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN GUSTING WINDS AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE MOTORIZED GLIDER DRIFTED OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SAGE BRUSH. THE PILOT CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER; HOWEVER, THE GLIDER DRIFTED BACK OVER, AND OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER DID NOT GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE SAGE BRUSH AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE GLIDER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND WIND GUSTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1323
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ROCK SPRINGS
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82902
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ROCK SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RKS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6760
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1324 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID RKS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6760
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9180
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1855
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1412
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45GF
NTSB Number SEA94LA210
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Burkhart Grob
Aircraft Model G-109B
Aircraft Series Identifier G-109B
Aircraft Serial Number 6345
Certified Max Gross Weight 1874
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FEATHER, BONNY L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 2, BOX 2556
Aircraft Owner City PALESTINE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1323
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CYS
Destination City CHEYENNE
Destination State WY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 10000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --