Sportine Aviacija LAK17 accident near Lake Port, California, August 7, 2020
On August 7, 2020 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2020 Sportine Aviacija LAK17 (glider), registered N290MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lake Port, California. It was a personal 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 exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack during flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2020 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Port, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sportine Aviacija LAK17 B, built 2020
- Registration
- N290MH · registry record · serial 029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a local flight in his newly purchased self-launching motorglider in day visual meteorological conditions. Flight track data showed the glider complete multiple turns in the vicinity of the airport at various altitudes. About 20 minutes into the flight, flight track data ended near the accident site. The end of the data showed the glider in a short, steep climb before turning left and losing about 70 ft of altitude. The final data point showed the glider about 564 ft above ground level. There were no witnesses to the accident. Although the recorded data did not capture engine operation for the accident flight, examination of the wreckage indicated that the engine was operating at the time of impact. The pilot had over 1,600 hours of flight experience in gliders and about 4.5 hours in the accident glider. Although the flight track data did not show an aerodynamic stall causing the glider to descend to the ground, it is likely that one occurred. According to photos supplied by first responders, the glider was found in multiple sections scattered within about a 100 ft radius. In the immediate vicinity of the debris field and wreckage, trees and bushes were not damaged indicating that the glider was most likely in a nose low descent at the time of impact.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,556 hours in all; 4.5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 10, 2019
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 12, 2020; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 771 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Sportine Aviacija FES-LAK-M100 (electric); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1O2 Lakeport CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 1O2 Lakeport CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from K1O2, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on January 18, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Email-pilot Correspondence | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Email-aircraft History | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Email-airworthiness Certificate Amendment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Image Array-google Earth Image of Flight Track Data | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Spot Data | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | LX9000 Flight Data Raw Format | PDF, 77 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Powermouse Raw Data | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Flight Track Data-displayed | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Memorandum of Record-autopsy Report Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Toxicology Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 14 | Photo Array-onsite (Courtesy of Local Law Enforcement) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 15 | Video-departure of Accident Flight | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
