CircumFlightN8657R accident
NTSB WPR25LA144 · 2025-04-26 · Ontario, OR · near ONO
Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant
Factual narrative
The glider pilot was on a local flight and returning to a local airport to land. While the pilot maneuvered the airplane onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane descended. Subsequently, the right wing dropped and impacted the ground 0.5 miles short of the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported to the insurance company that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.
Probable cause
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the final approach to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.
Circumstances
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Weather conditions
- Visual Meteorological Cond
- Light condition
- Day
- Ceiling (ft)
- 0
- Visibility (sm)
- 10
- Wind direction
- 320
- Wind speed (kt)
- 5
- Temperature (F)
- 63
- Nearest airport
- ONTARIO MUNI
- Distance from field
- 1.0
- Airport elevation
- 2193
Aircraft
| Registration | Make | Model | Damage | FAR part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N8657R | — | — | SUBS | 091 |
Sequence of events
| # | Occurrence | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landing Aerodynamic stall/spin defining | Cruise |
| 2 | Landing Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) | Cruise |