Briegleb BG-12B accident near Wenatchee, Washington, June 11, 1990
On June 11, 1990, a Briegleb BG-12B (glider), registered N1696, was destroyed in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington (Wenatchee 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
PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT UNDERSHOOTING THE RUNWAY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1990
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · Wenatchee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Briegleb BG-12B
- Registration
- N1696 · no longer on the register · serial 169
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW TOO FAR IN A VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY FOR LANDING. THE ACFT UNDERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED TERRAIN OFF THE ARPT.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 798 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 748 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 1,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.