Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waialua, Hawaii 96791
Wednesday, May 23, 1990 11:08 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS WORKING THE HILL SLOPES IN RIDGE LIFT WHEN THE GLIDER WAS SUDDENLY LIFTED INTO THE CLOUDS. THE PILOT SAID HE TRIED TO STEER A NORTHERLY HEADING AWAY FROM THE HILLS BUT THE GLIDER ONLY HAD BASIC INSTRUMENTS. THE PILOT SAID HE DESCENDED OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND FOUND HIMSELF LESS THAN 100 FEET ABOVE A TREE COVERED HILL. THE PILOT SAID THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF THE TREES AND SETTLED INTO THE FOREST CANOPY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM CLOUDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1108
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City WAIALUA
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96791
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
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 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 65
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1791
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43521
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15SH
NTSB Number LAX90LA190
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 1-26
Aircraft Series Identifier SGS 1-26
Aircraft Serial Number 076
Certified Max Gross Weight 575
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 1
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOAR HAWAII, LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 266 POIPU DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City HONOLULU
Aircraft Owner State HI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96825
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SOAR HAWAII, LTD.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 266 POIPU DRIVE
Operator City HONOLULU
Operator State HI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96825
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HDH
Departure City MOKULEIA, OAHU
Departure State HI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1052
Departure Time Zone HST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HDH
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --