Cedar Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cedar Fort, Utah 84013
Saturday, May 16, 1998 14:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on down wind in the landing pattern, the aircraft was observed to enter a nose low attitude and impact the ground. Weather at the time was clear skies and calm winds. Examination of the aircraft provided no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The pilot had accumulated 5 hours experience in aircraft make and model.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure by the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor was lack of experience in make and model.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CEDAR FORT
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84013
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CEDAR VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UT10
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 5000
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1415 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID PVU
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 323
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 16 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1752
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:20AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N158R
NTSB Number FTW98LA223
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AS+ Ltd
Aircraft Model AC-4
Aircraft Series Identifier AC-4
Aircraft Serial Number 27
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RUSSIA SAILPLANES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 121 E. OLIVE STREET
Aircraft Owner City BOZEMAN
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59715
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD S. SMITH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4848 HIGHLAND DRIVE #354
Operator City SALT LAKE CITY
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84117
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 UT10
Departure City
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 35
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --