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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 20, 1986 · Ltv Aerospace Industries A7E · USN

Warner Springs, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 20, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Warner Springs, CA
Aircraft
Ltv Aerospace Industries A7E
Tail Number
USN
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX86MA186

A Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 glider and an LTV A7E jet collided over Hot Springs Mountain, near Warner Springs, CA. The A7E was attempting a rapid pull up and the glider was attempting a nose down, 30 degree right turn when they collided. Both aircraft were operating under visual flight rules and landed without further incident. Neither pilot was injured. The glider left wing outboard 3 ft section was severed. The A7E nose cowling was substantially damaged and the engine ingested extensive fiberglass material. The collision occurred as the A7E was executing a southbound turn on VR 1257 and was within the route width (4 NM); the glider was attempting to gain lift on the west side of Hot Springs Mountain and was within VR 1257 route structure. The A7E pilot had informed the necessary flight service stations that the route was active; the glider pilot had not contacted the flight service stations to determine if the route was active.

Full Narrative

A ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4 GLIDER AND AN LTV A7E JET COLLIDED OVER HOT SPRINGS MTN, NEAR WARNER SPRINGS, CA. THE A7E WAS ATTEMPTING A RAPID PULL UP AND THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING A NOSE DOWN, 30 DEG RIGHT TURN WHEN THEY COLLIDED. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLT RULES AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NEITHER PILOT WAS INJURED. THE GLIDER LEFT WING OUTBD 3 FT SECTION WAS SEVERED. THE A7E NOSE COWLING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE INGESTED EXTENSIVE FIBERGLASS MATERIAL. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE A7E WAS EXECUTING A SOUTHBOUND TURN ON VR 1257 AND WAS WITHIN THE ROUTE WIDTH (4 NM); THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GAIN LIFT ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOT SPRINGS MTN AND WAS WITHIN VR 1257 ROUTE STRUCTURE. THE A7E PLT HAD INFORMED THE NECESSARY FLT SERV STATIONS THAT THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE; THE GLIDER PLT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE FLT SERV STATIONS TO DETERMINE IF THE ROUTE WAS ACTIVE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:43 PST
Nearest AirportWarner Springs (6nm NE)
Runway24
Runway Length12000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledVfif
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLtv Aerospace Industries A7E
Tail NumberUSN
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsAllison · TF-41A-402D · Turbofan · 15000 | Unknown
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 26 · Unknown
Crew 2Age 35 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 9 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data