Amateur-built BG 12 B-D accident near Montague, California, July 1, 1989
On July 1, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BG 12 B-D (glider), registered N124HH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, California (Montague 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
PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE AND FAILED TO EXTEND THE SPOILERS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Montague, California · Montague · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BG 12 B-D
- Registration
- N124HH · registry record · serial HH1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER FLIGHT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AFTER COMPLETING A LOCAL SOARING FLIGHT. THE GLIDER'S ALTITUDE WAS TOO LOW TO EXECUTE A NORMAL DOWNWIND PATTERN ENTRY AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ENTER THE BASE LEG. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE BASE LEG ENTRY ALTITUDE WAS ABT 200 - 300 FT ABOVE THE NORMAL BASE LEG ALTITUDE AND THAT THE GLIDER LANDED LONG AND RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PLT ELECTED TO GROUND LOOP THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A FENCE AFTER THE GLIDER EXITED THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 346 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1989; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,360 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 30°F (-1°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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N124HH on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,727 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX89DVG08.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.