Event SEA01LA150

Factual narrative

On August 14, 2001, about 2000 Pacific daylight time, an I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 glider, N29JB, sustained substantial damage during a landing attempt at Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee, Washington. The glider is registered to the Cascade Soaring Society, Wenatchee, Washington, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) practical flight test under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The first pilot, an airline transport pilot/pilot examiner employed by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the second pilot, a student pilot who was undergoing the practical test, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated at the Wenatchee airport approximately 40 minutes prior to the accident. The second pilot, who was seated in the rear seat, stated he was attempting to land on the grass runway that parallels runway 07-25. After determining the glider was too high to land on the intended runway, the first pilot took control of the aircraft in an attempt to maneuver the glider to an alternate landing location beyond the departure end of the runway. However, during the maneuver the glider's left wingtip contacted the ground. The first pilot reported that it was evident the glider was too high to land on the intended runway, and too low to abort the landing. He reported that he "…took the controls" in an effort to maneuver the glider into a better position for landing. He reported that he intended to land in an open area between the departure end of the runway 07 and trees located east of the runway. During the maneuver, the glider's left wingtip contacted the ground, and "caused the aircraft to do an abrupt yaw to the left." Witnesses to the accident reported the glider contacted the terrain in a left wing-low, nose-down attitude approximately 60 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. For the purpose of this report, the first pilot is defined as the pilot who was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident. The second pilot stated he was attempting to land on the grass runway. After determining the glider was too high to land on the intended runway, the first pilot took control of the aircraft in an attempt to maneuver the glider to an alternate landing location beyond the departure end of the runway. However, during the maneuver the glider's left wingtip contacted the ground. The first pilot reported that it was evident the glider was too high to land on the intended runway, and too low to abort the landing. He reported that he "…took the controls" in an effort to maneuver the glider into a better position for landing. He reported that he intended to land in an open area between the departure end of the runway 07 and trees located east of the runway. During the maneuver, the glider's left wingtip contacted the ground, and "caused the aircraft to do an abrupt yaw to the left." Witnesses to the accident reported the glider contacted the terrain in a left wing-low, nose-down attitude approximately 60 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. For the purpose of this report, the first pilot is defined as the pilot who was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12