Pleasant Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New River, Arizona 85029
Saturday, November 5, 1983 15:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE HOME BUILT, SINGLE PLACE, GLIDER & WAS ON HIS 1ST TOW. HE REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER BECAME AIRBORNE PRIOR TO THE TOW PLANE, HE FELT A SLIGHT TUG AT THE ELEVATOR CONTROL, HAD CLIMBED TOO HIGH BEHIND THE TOW PLANE, THEN OVERCORRECTED IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RWY, BOUNCED & WENT BACK IN THE AIR. THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE CANOPY HAD LOOSENED AT ITS FRONT LOCKING POINT. AT APRX 50 FT AGL, HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE & LANDED IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING HIT A BUSH, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GLIDER WAS DAMAGED. EARLIER THAT DAY, THE PREVIOUS OWNER & ANOTHER PLT HAD FLOWN THE GLIDER WITH NO PROBLEMS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/5/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City NEW RIVER
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85029
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PLEASANT VALLEY
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1646
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21980
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17DW
NTSB Number LAX84LA053
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 SCHREDER
Aircraft Model HP-18
Aircraft Series Identifier HP-18
Aircraft Serial Number 35
Certified Max Gross Weight 890
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Sep 30 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 216
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT PICKWOAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1944 W. THUNDERBIRK #120
Aircraft Owner City PHOENIX
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85023
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name 1
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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? 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 1629
Departure Time Zone MST
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --