Summary
On March 08, 1994, a Schweizer 2-33A (N5790S) was involved in an incident near Heber City, UT. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DELAYED/INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND UNFAVORABLE/VARIABLE, GUSTY WINDS DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.
On March 8, 1994, approximately 1500 mountain standard time (MST), a Schweizer 2-33A glider, N5790S, collided with taxiway markers during the takeoff roll at Heber Valley Airport, Heber City, Utah. The certified flight instructor and his dual student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The dual student, who was attempting a takeoff for a local instructional flight, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was making the takeoff with the assistance of a wing-runner. After the flight controls became effective, the wing-runner let go of the wing.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA94LA078. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5790S.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DELAYED/INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND UNFAVORABLE/VARIABLE, GUSTY WINDS DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 8, 1994, approximately 1500 mountain standard time (MST), a Schweizer 2-33A glider, N5790S, collided with taxiway markers during the takeoff roll at Heber Valley Airport, Heber City, Utah. The certified flight instructor and his dual student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The dual student, who was attempting a takeoff for a local instructional flight, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was making the takeoff with the assistance of a wing-runner. After the flight controls became effective, the wing-runner let go of the wing. Soon thereafter, the glider veered left, and the left wing dipped sharply. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft, but his remedial action was not sufficient to keep the aircraft from departing the side of the runway and striking a runway marker. The instructor pilot aborted the takeoff by releasing the tow line after the impact with the marker.
In an interview with investigators, the instructor pilot said that he believed a variable crosswind switched to a quartering tailwind during the takeoff roll, resulting in a loss of flight control effectiveness.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA94LA078