I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 accident near Edgewood, New Mexico, March 20, 1995
On March 20, 1995 at about 9:17 pm local time, a I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 (glider), registered N51947, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgewood, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1995 · about 9:17 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewood, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2
- Registration
- N51947 · no longer on the register · serial 81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PILOT ENTERED 'HEAVY SINK' (DOWNDRAFT) SIXTY THREE MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF. THE PILOT SELECTED SANDIA EAST AIRPORT WHICH IS 12 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF HIS DEPARTURE POINT FOR LANDING, BUT, COULD NOT REACH IT DUE TO 20 KNOT HEAD WINDS. HE SELECTED A PASTURE FOR HIS SECONDARY LANDING SITE, BUT THERE WAS A HOUSE IN THE WAY. DURING A 180 DEGREE TURN TO MISS THE HOUSE, HIS LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER SLID TO A STOP.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,301 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.