While climbing in a thermal; sailplane pilot experiences near midair collision with flight of two mi...

Attributes
ACN	811353
Time
Date	200811
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 6280 flight time type : 6280
ASRS Report	811353
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was on a soaring pleasure flight; originating at warner springs. During course of the flight; I had gotten low near agua caliente airport (L54). I found a thermal approximately 800 ft AGL 2 SM north of the airport and was circling right. Having climbed to approximately 1500 ft AGL (3000 ft MSL) I observed a military training jet (white fuselage; red nose/tail) believed to be a T45 jet trainer. This aircraft passed approximately 1.5 mi north of my position; at my altitude; east to west; at approximately 400 KTS. This aircraft was close to VR1266. I was in a right circle at this time facing north. I began looking for the second jet trainer; as they almost always fly in pairs. I was unsure whether the first aircraft was lead or trail; but in any case was not in a position to look toward west as I was now facing directly east. Second trainer jet then passed directly underneath (west to east) from my 6 O'clock position at approximately 400 KTS; 100 ft below.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE CLIMBING IN A THERMAL; SAILPLANE PILOT EXPERIENCES NMAC WITH FLIGHT OF TWO MILITARY TRAINERS.

Narrative: I WAS ON A SOARING PLEASURE FLT; ORIGINATING AT WARNER SPRINGS. DURING COURSE OF THE FLT; I HAD GOTTEN LOW NEAR AGUA CALIENTE ARPT (L54). I FOUND A THERMAL APPROX 800 FT AGL 2 SM N OF THE ARPT AND WAS CIRCLING R. HAVING CLBED TO APPROX 1500 FT AGL (3000 FT MSL) I OBSERVED A MIL TRAINING JET (WHITE FUSELAGE; RED NOSE/TAIL) BELIEVED TO BE A T45 JET TRAINER. THIS ACFT PASSED APPROX 1.5 MI N OF MY POS; AT MY ALT; E TO W; AT APPROX 400 KTS. THIS ACFT WAS CLOSE TO VR1266. I WAS IN A R CIRCLE AT THIS TIME FACING N. I BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE SECOND JET TRAINER; AS THEY ALMOST ALWAYS FLY IN PAIRS. I WAS UNSURE WHETHER THE FIRST ACFT WAS LEAD OR TRAIL; BUT IN ANY CASE WAS NOT IN A POS TO LOOK TOWARD W AS I WAS NOW FACING DIRECTLY E. SECOND TRAINER JET THEN PASSED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH (W TO E) FROM MY 6 O'CLOCK POS AT APPROX 400 KTS; 100 FT BELOW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

While climbing in a thermal; sailplane pilot experiences near midair collision with flight of two military trainers.