Glaser-Dirks DG400 accident near Calistoga, California, November 14, 1992
On November 14, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Glaser-Dirks DG400 (glider), registered N360GG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calistoga, California (Calistoga Glider Port 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 FAILURE OF THE BRAKES DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE CABLE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TAILWIND CONDITION DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Calistoga, California · Calistoga Glider Port · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glaser-Dirks DG400 · all DG400s on the register
- Registration
- N360GG · no longer on the register · serial 4-276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID, AND GROUND WITNESSES CONFIRMED, THAT HE LANDED IN A 15 KNOT TAILWIND ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE GLIDER, NO RESISTANCE WAS FELT ON THE BRAKE CONTROL HANDLE AND THE GLIDER WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE KNEW HE COULD NOT STOP PRIOR TO OVER RUNNING THE END OF THE RUNWAY HE STEERED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD A WOODEN WALL OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSTEAD OF LETTING THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUE TOWARD A CHAIN LINK FENCE. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE EXPERIMENTAL GLIDER AND FOUND THAT A 1.6MM STEEL CABLE WHICH RUNS BETWEEN THE COCKPIT BRAKE HANDLE AND THE MAIN WHEEL BRAKE ACTUATOR HAD SEPARATED. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE REASON FOR THE CABLE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: 279 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 208 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1992; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,058 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O58 at 10:00 pm
- Destination: O58
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,600 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.