Thompson Falls Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Thompson Falls, Montana 59873
Sunday, July 29, 1990 13:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE THE PILOT WAS ON DOWNWIND IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING, A GLIDER AHEAD IN THE PATTERN BLEW A TIRE ON TOUCHDOWN AND WAS SITTING DISABLED ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE UNOBSTRUCTED PORTION OF RWY, BUT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 75 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A DISABLED AIRCRAFT BLOCKING THE ACTIVE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City THOMPSON FALLS
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59873
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THOMPSON FALLS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID THM
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 2460
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1250 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID FCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 2972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4170
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) 533
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 30 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1212
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41495
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4166A
NTSB Number SEA90LA150
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 GLASFLUGEL
Aircraft Model H 301 LIBELLE
Aircraft Series Identifier H 301 LIBE
Aircraft Serial Number 52
Certified Max Gross Weight 660
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 28 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 64
Airframe Hours 1608
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DALE WALKER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address N. 15619 LANTERN LANE
Operator City SPOKANE
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99218
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 1230
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 Landing
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 7
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --