Bölkow PHOEBUS C accident near Helendale, California, May 20, 1995
On May 20, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bölkow PHOEBUS C (glider), registered N1379, was substantially damaged in an accident near Helendale, 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 pilot's selection of a downwind landing and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors in the accident were the inaccurate wind information provided by his ground crew which led the pilot to select the improper landing direction, and, the loose sandy nature of the landing site which inhibited the effectiveness of the glider brakes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Helendale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bölkow PHOEBUS C
- Registration
- N1379 · no longer on the register · serial 843
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LONG CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE REQUIRED LIFT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PILOT SELECTED A SUITABLE OFF-AIRPORT FIELD TO LAND. HIS GROUND CREW REPORTED WINDS FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 KNOTS AND UPSLOPING TERRAIN TOWARD THE NORTH. THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND DOWNWIND IN AN UPHILL DIRECTION. THE WINDS WERE STRONGER THAN THE GROUND CREW INDICATED AND THE GLIDER LANDED LONG. THE PILOT SAID BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR DUE TO THE LOOSE SAND ON A HARD SOIL BASE. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD STOP THE GLIDER, IT SLID INTO A DRY WASH AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT WALL. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE OBSERVED THE WINDS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO 13 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: 56 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 773 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L01 Llano CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 100 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.