Amateur-built GW-4 accident near Warner Springs, California, July 9, 1992
On July 9, 1992 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built GW-4 (glider), registered N3705, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warner Springs, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFTS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1992 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GW-4
- Registration
- N3705 · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, 7 MILES NORTH OF THE GLIDERPORT, THE GLIDER FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED STRONG DOWN DRAFTS. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TOWARDS THE GLIDERPORT, BUT ENCOUNTERED STRONGER DOWNDRAFTS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE RIDGE. THERE IS NO RECORD THAT THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 267 hours in all; 148 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 505 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1992; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.