Dillingham Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mokuleia, Hawaii 96791
Friday, November 6, 1992 15:20 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM AN AERO TOW, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED STRONG SINK CONDITIONS. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE STRONG SINK CONDITIONS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE THE GLIDER AND IT SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORECASTED UNFAVORABLE WINDS (LOSS OF THERMAL LIFT) AND DOWNDRAFTS WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/6/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City MOKULEIA
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96791
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DILLINGHAM AIRFIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PHDH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 735
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 6 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48146
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5761S
NTSB Number LAX93LA031
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 SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model SGS 2-32
Aircraft Series Identifier SGS 2-32
Aircraft Serial Number 59
Certified Max Gross Weight 1430
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 3
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 26 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 87
Airframe Hours 13285
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HONOLULU SOARING CLUB, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 626
Aircraft Owner City WAIALUA
Aircraft Owner State HI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96791
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HONOLULU SOARING CLUB, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 626
Operator City WAIALUA
Operator State HI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96791
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 1507
Departure Time Zone HST
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 Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --