Amateur-built KR-03A accident near Avenal, California, May 26, 1993
On May 26, 1993 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-03A (glider), registered N6644A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avenal, California. 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 GLIDER'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE DOWNDRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENTS WERE THE TURBULENCE AND THE POWERLINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1993 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Avenal, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-03A
- Registration
- N6644A · no longer on the register · serial 03/04
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS WHILE RETURNING TO THE GLIDER PORT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE TURNING ONTO THE BASE LEG FOR THE LANDING THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT OBSERVED SOME POWERLINES AND DOVE THE GLIDER BENEATH THEM. WHILE DIRECTLY UNDER THE POWERLINES THE PILOT OBSERVED A 3-FT BARBEDWIRE FENCE. WHEN THE PILOT RAISED THE GLIDER'S PITCH ATTITUDE TO AVOID HITTING THE FENCE, THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING RAISED AND STRUCK THE POWERLINES. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ENCOUNTERING ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 132 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 8, 1993; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,190 lb
- Seats: 2
- 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 210° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 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.