Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Jean Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Jean, Nevada 89019
Saturday, August 2, 2008 14:20 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The glider and a tow plane collided in flight while maneuvering over the airport. Both pilots reported that the glider had performed a normal tow breakaway at 3,000 feet mean sea level and turned right 60-70 degrees. After the glider released the tow line, the tow plane turned left 90 degrees, held that course for about 30 seconds, then turned right 90 degrees, coming to a course that approximately paralleled the original course. The tow plane pilot turned the airplane back to the southwest and continued the descent to the airport. Neither pilot kept the other airplane in visual contact as they maneuvered over the airport. The tow plane pilot said that he did not see the glider beneath the nose and instrument panel of his airplane. The right landing gear of the tow plane contacted the tail of the glider at a slight left to right crossing angle. The collision occurred while both airplanes were on a southwesterly course. The glider pilot said the rudder pedals had become ineffective, but he was able to maintain directional control by using angle of bank. Both airplanes landed safely at the airport.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft while maneuvering over the airport.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 8/2/2008 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1420 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Jean |
| Event State | NEVADA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 89019 |
| Event Date Year | 2008 |
| Event Date Month | 8 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | Yes |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 354600N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1151947W |
| Event Location Airport | Jean |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | K0L7 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 2832 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1456 Pacific Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 220 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KHND |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 2492 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 16 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 42 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -1 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 260 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 12 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.79 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 25268 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Aug 2 2008 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 25 2009 12:37PM |
| User who most recently changed record | coos |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Las Vegas FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
||
|---|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
Aircraft #2 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N33923 | N7211Z |
| NTSB Number | LAX08LA254A | LAX08LA254B |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No | No |
| Damage | Substantial | None |
| Aircraft Fire | None | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | SCHWEIZER | PIPER |
| Aircraft Model | SGS 2-33A | PA-25-235 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 413 | 25-3122 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1040 | 2900 |
| Aircraft Category | Glider | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 | 1 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 2 | 1 |
| Number of Engines | -- | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jun 1 2008 12:00AM | Feb 29 2008 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 4936 | 11950 |
| ELT Installed | No | No |
| ELT Activated | No | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Las Vegas Valley Soaring Assoc | Las Vegas Valley Soaring Association |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | Jean | Jean |
| Aircraft Owner State | NV | NV |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 89019 | 89019 |
| Operator is an individual? | No | No |
| Operator Name | Las Vegas Valley Soaring Assoc | Las Vegas Valley Soaring Association |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No | No |
| Operator Street Address | PO Box 19902 | PO Box 19902 |
| Operator City | Jean | Jean |
| Operator State | NV | NV |
| Operator Country | USA | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 89019 | 89019 |
| Operator Code | -- | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No | No |
| 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) | Instructional | Glider Tow |
| Second Pilot on Board | -- | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | KOL7 | KOL7 |
| Departure City | Jean | Jean |
| Departure State | NV | NV |
| Departure Country | USA | USA |
| Departure Time | 1413 | 1413 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | KOL7 | KOL7 |
| Destination City | Jean | Jean |
| Destination State | NV | NV |
| Destination Country | USA | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Maneuvering | Maneuvering |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 25 2009 12:36PM | Mar 25 2009 12:36PM |
| User who most recently changed record | coos | coos |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- | -- |
| Runway Width | -- | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No | No |
| Medical Flight | -- | -- |