Mountain Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tehachapi, California 93561
Saturday, August 26, 2000 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The glider was returning to the airport when the left wing and flap separated; the glider entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain. It was about 1 mile north of the airport and about 2,000 feet above the ground. It appeared to be preparing to enter downwind for the landing pattern for runway 27. The altitude was higher than normal for this approach, and the glider's speed was very fast. This glider did not have speed brakes; the flaps were used to slow it down. The flaps appeared to be activated when the left flap and wing separated. A section of the rear spar fractured and separated from the wing. The left wing spar fracture surface exhibited twisting characteristics.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot exceeded the airspeed limit for operation of the flaps resulting in flap and wing overload and separation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TEHACHAPI
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93561
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MOUNTAIN VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L94
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 4220
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID EDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2302
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11998
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1605
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 15 2002 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4458
NTSB Number LAX00LA312
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CABLE-BREIGLER
Aircraft Model BG-12BD
Aircraft Series Identifier BG-12BD
Aircraft Serial Number CVC-1
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 0
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 No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELLIOT P. QUICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PALMDALE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93550
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 L94
Departure City TEHACHAPI
Departure State CA
Departure Country --
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 9 2002 5:58PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27R
Runway Length 5190
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --