LITHUANIAN FACTORY OF AVIATION LAK 12
Sunriver, OR — March 20, 2018
Event Information
| Date | March 20, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA172 |
| Event ID | 20180321X04722 |
| Location | Sunriver, OR |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 43.86361, -121.40778 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | LITHUANIAN FACTORY OF AVIATION |
| Model | LAK 12 |
| Category | GLI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The glider pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
Full Narrative
The glider pilot reported that, at 8,800 ft, he encountered a strong sink rate of about 400-600 ft per minute. He added that he was unable to find any thermals and decided to head towards a nearby airport to land. He soon realized that he would not be able to reach the airport and chose to land on a highway instead. During landing, the wings struck road signs and came to rest on the right side of the highway.
The glider sustained substantial damage to the wings.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.