I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 accident near Wenatchee, Washington, August 15, 2001
On August 15, 2001 at about 3:00 am local time, a I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2 (glider), registered N29JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington (Pangborn Memorial airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low altitude turn. The second pilot overshooting the runway was a contributing factor to the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2001 · about 3:00 am local time · cases in 2001
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · Pangborn Memorial · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov IS-28B2
- Registration
- N29JB · registry record · serial 1528B2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The second pilot stated he was attempting to land on the grass runway. After determining the glider was too high to land on the intended runway, the first pilot took control of the aircraft in an attempt to maneuver the glider to an alternate landing location beyond the departure end of the runway. However, during the maneuver the glider's left wingtip contacted the ground. The first pilot reported that it was evident the glider was too high to land on the intended runway, and too low to abort the landing. He reported that he "…took the controls" in an effort to maneuver the glider into a better position for landing. He reported that he intended to land in an open area between the departure end of the runway 07 and trees located east of the runway. During the maneuver, the glider's left wingtip contacted the ground, and "caused the aircraft to do an abrupt yaw to the left." Witnesses to the accident reported the glider contacted the terrain in a left wing-low, nose-down attitude approximately 60 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. For the purpose of this report, the first pilot is defined as the pilot who was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,301 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 2:50 am
- Destination: EAT Wenatchee WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 322° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from EAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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
- N29JB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Pangborn Memorial · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,709 since 1982 · 358 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,570 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA01LA150.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.