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NTSB Report

May 22, 1983 · Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus Standard C · N184N

Bridgeport, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 22, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality), 1 uninjured
Location
Bridgeport, CA
Aircraft
Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus Standard C
Tail Number
N184N
Operator
Richard Cook
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX83FA242

Two ScheMPP-Hirth gliders, N184N & N6482, were being flown in a cross-country contest along a triangular course. The course started at Minden, NV and went to Schurz, NV and Bridgeport, CA, then back to Minden. The pilots of both gliders had participated in contests for over 10 years and were good friends. Witnesses observed the two gliders flying close to each other along the route near the Bridgeport Reservoir. The pilot of N184N said that he saw N6482 about 200 feet above him while both were in a thermal. He said that N6482 left the thermal at about 15,500 feet. He (N184N) made another turn in the thermal, then left it to continue toward Bridgeport. The pilot of N184N said that when he left the thermal, he did not see N6482 until sometime later, just a fraction of a second before impact. He reported that N6482 converged from N184N's 8 o'clock position. After impact, N6482 entered a descent and crashed in a hilly wooded area. The left wing tip of N184N separated and the canopy was damaged, but the pilot was able to land at Bridgeport.

Full Narrative

TWO SCHEMPP-HIRTH GLIDERS, N184N & N6482, WERE BEING FLOWN IN A X-COUNTRY CONTEST ALONG A TRIANGULAR COURSE. THE COURSE STARTED AT MINDEN, NV & WENT TO SCHURZ, NV & BRIDGEPORT, CA, THEN BACK TO MINDEN. THE PLTS OF BOTH GLIDERS HAD PARTICIPATED IN CONTESTS FOR OVER 10 YRS & WERE GOOD FRIENDS. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE 2 GLIDERS FLYING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ALONG THE ROUTE NEAR THE BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR. THE PLT OF N184N SAID THAT HE SAW N6482 ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE HIM WHILE BOTH WERE IN A THERMAL. HE SAID THAT N6482 LEFT THE THERMAL AT ABOUT 15,500 FT. HE (N184N) MADE ANOTHER TURN IN THE THERMAL, THEN LEFT IT TO CONTINUE TOWARD BRIDGEPORT. THE PLT OF N184N SAID THAT WHEN HE LEFT THE THERMAL, HE DID NOT SEE N6482 UNTIL SOMETIME LATER, JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE IMPACT. HE REPORTED THAT N6482 CONVERGED FROM N184N'S 8 O'CLOCK POSITION. AFTER IMPACT, N6482 ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED IN A HILLY WOODED AREA. THE LEFT WING TIP OF N184N SEPARATED & THE CANOPY WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LAND AT BRIDGEPORT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:25 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus Standard C
Tail NumberN184N
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRichard Cook
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsNone · NONE · Unknown | None · NONE · Unknown
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality), 1 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 53 · Unknown
Crew 2Age 46 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 12 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time16:30
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data