Avia Stroitel AC-4B accident near Wenatchee, Washington, June 11, 2005
On June 11, 2005 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Avia Stroitel AC-4B (glider), registered N1198Z, was destroyed in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2005 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avia Stroitel AC-4B · all AC-4Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1198Z · registry record · serial 021
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot's instructor said that the student pilot had approximately 12 hours of flight experience over 18 training flights; he said that this was the student pilot's first flight in this make and model of aircraft. The student pilot was scheduled to fly a one hour flight. When he did not return, a search airplane departed and found the glider on the back side of a mountain ridge approximately 3 nautical miles from the airport. The tow-pilot that towed the glider airborne said that on the ground, the wind was variable from 240 degrees to 280 degrees at 11 to 13 knots. He further stated that the student "did a great job [on departure], he was in position all the time." The tow-pilot said that when he passed through 4,250 feet, the student released from the tow rope. He said that the "ridge lift" just northeast of the airport was "very good."
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 551 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: EAT Wenatchee WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from EAT, 3 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N1198Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.