ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 368758
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 20 May 1989 |
| Time: | 13:39 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-25-235 |
| Owner/operator: | Warrenton Soaring Center |
| Registration: | N9489P |
| MSN: | 25-7405589 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3135 hours |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING O-540-B2B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Warrenton, VA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE PIPER WAS TOWING A GLIDER, A SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33. DURING CLIMB ABOUT 200 FT AGL WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE TOWPLANE PLT, HIS ACFT ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN. THE TOWPLANE DESCENDED AND THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER IN TIME TO AVOID THE ACFT FROM STRIKING THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE GLIDER PLT, DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB HE ENCOUNTERED AN UPDRAFT WHICH CAUSED THE GLIDER TO ACCELERATE AND CLIMB DESPITE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE GLIDER PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE RELEASED THE TOWROPE HE HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN THE GLIDER PITCHED UP. THE GLIDER PILOT STATED THE AIRSPEED REACHED 105 MPH AND THE GLIDER PITCHED UP TO ABOUT 50 TO 60 DEGREES. THE GLIDER REACHED ABOUT 650 AGL BEFORE IT SLOWED TO 50 MPH AFTER WHICH HE RETURNED TO LAND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE GLIDER PILOT HAD 17 HRS TOTAL TIME IN GLIDERS; HOWEVER, UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT HE HAD NOT FLOWN GLIDERS FOR ABOUT 2 YRS. THIS WAS HIS THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND THE FIRST ONE WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR ABOARD.
Probable Cause: THE FAILURE OF THE GLIDER PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE DURING TAKEOFF AND THE DELAY IN RELEASING FROM THE TOWPLANE AFTER REALIZING THAT HE WAS CLIMBING WELL ABOVE THE TOWPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UPDRAFT ENCOUNTERED AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE GLIDER PILOT.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB BFO89LA035
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Mar-2024 07:09 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation