ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 165194
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| Date: | Friday 18 April 1969 |
| Time: | 13:40 |
| Type: | Schneider ES-60/II Boomerang |
| Owner/operator: | Waikerie Gliding Club |
| Registration: | VH-GPO |
| MSN: | 94 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 2 miles SSE of Waikerie, SA -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Waikerie, SA |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot was making his first flight in an ES60 Mk.II Boomerang Glider, but had previously flown the Schleicher KA-6 type glider, which has similar characteristics. On the day of the accident he completed two dual check flights in a Blanik glider and was then given a comprehensive briefing on the ES60.
Shortly after taking off in the ES60, the pilot assumed the normal low tow position behind the tug aircraft until reaching some 500 feet below the planned release height of 2, 500 feet. At this point release occurred, without the glider having taken up the normal line astern release position and subsequently a turn was made to the left, toward the aerodrome, instead of to the right, as is normal procedure.
The glider then rapidly accelerated to a high speed in a very steep dive with the wings level and then recovered momentarily to level flight before entering a similar but steeper and faster dive. When the glider was below recovery height, the port wing separated from the fuselage which disintegrated on impact with the ground, two miles south-south-east of Waikerie, South Australia
No evidence was found of any structural defect or malfunction of the controls prior to the wing failure, nor were the weather conditions considered to be significant. The pilot had been adequately briefed on the use of dive brakes to limit the diving speed but the evidence is that they were not used. The pilot's medical history and a post-mortem examination provided no reason to suspect incapacitation. The pilot was later named as Donald Frederick JOHNSON, aged 39
ATSB Conclusion: The cause of the accident was that the pilot lost control of the aircraft but the reason for loss of control could not be established from the available evidence
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1969/aair/aair196903386.aspx
2. http://atsb.gov.au/media/24645/196903386.pdf
3. http://www.planetrace.co.uk/1960-1969_29.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Apr-2014 18:03 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 09-Jun-2022 06:36 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
| 23-Oct-2023 03:54 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Location]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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