Lake Riverside Estates Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Riverside, California 92536
Tuesady, July 14, 2009 13:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the glider experienced a loss of lift during a cross country flight and he executed an off-airport approach and landing to a field. During the landing flare, the glider’s left wing struck a fence post. Subsequently the glider landed sideways and came to rest upright. Examination of the glider revealed that the left wing spar and the fuselage were structurally damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the glider’s flight control systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of lift which necessitated a forced landing in a field.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/2009
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lake Riverside
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92536
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332902N
Event Location Longitude 1164114W
Event Location Airport Lake Riverside Estates Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 54CL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3410
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID KPSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 477
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 43
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.76
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25891
NTSB Notification Source Dennis VanFossen
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 5 2009 3:43PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2701Z
NTSB Number WPR09CA344
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model SGS 1-26A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 222
Certified Max Gross Weight 575
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1176
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ACADEMIC SOARING CLUB INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1665 SESSUMS DR
Aircraft Owner City REDLANDS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92374-1906
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ACADEMIC SOARING CLUB INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1665 SESSUMS DR
Operator City REDLANDS
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92374-1906
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? 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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CL35
Departure City Warner Springs
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 54CL
Destination City Lake Riverside
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 19 2009 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --