Amateur-built CONCEPT 70 accident near Ephrata, Washington, July 12, 1992
On July 12, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CONCEPT 70 (glider), registered N382W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ephrata, Washington. 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
INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: NO THERMAL LIFT AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ephrata, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CONCEPT 70
- Registration
- N382W · registry record · serial 15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT, SHORTLY AFTER DISCONNECT FROM THE TOW PLANE, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT THERMAL LIFT IN THE AREA. THE FLIGHT WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WAS TOO FAR OUT AND TOO LOW TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT THEN INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
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: 62 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,274 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 875 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EPH Ephrata WA at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.