Glasflugel ST LIEBELLE 201B accident near California City, California, September 2, 1985
On September 2, 1985, a Glasflugel ST LIEBELLE 201B, registered N711DP, was substantially damaged in an accident near California City, California (California City airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1985
- Place
- California City, California · California City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel ST LIEBELLE 201B ST LIEBELL
- Registration
- N711DP · no longer on the register · serial 517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER LANDED OFF THE ARPT ON A ROAD AND GROUNDLOOPED AFTER COLLIDING WITH SHRUBBERY. THE PLT COMPLAINED OF ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT DURING THE FLT.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,426 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,253 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 349 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1985; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L71 California City CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°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.