Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the glider pilot's improper decision to takeoff despite the presence of a glider winch cable lying on the runway area, which led to the glider snagging the winch cable during the takeoff roll and a subsequent forced landing. A related factor was: the airport manager's improper decision to conduct aero-tow operations, while the glider winch cable was lying on the runway area.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On October 6, 1996, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a WSK PZL Krosno KR-03A, a glider, N288S, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain while maneuvering to land at the Kutztown Airport (N31), Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at N31, approximately 1059.
The glider was towed by a Cessna 182 from the right side of runway 17, a 2,435 foot long grass runway. Also on the grass was a winch cable lying parallel to the runway extending from a glider winch truck. The winch truck operator witnessed the accident. He stated:
"...I could see that the tow plane was taking a longer ground run than normal to get airborne. When the glider was approximately 300 feet from the end of the runway I saw the winch cable hanging from the nose area of the glider....it had reached an altitude of 40 to 50 feet above the ground. At this point the tow line was released. It and the winch cable dropped from the glider. The glider then executed a turn to the left....the left wing of the glider came in contact with the standing corn stalks....the glider rotated around the left wing tip and I heard it impact the ground..."
In a written statement the pilot said that he discussed the presence of the cable with the airport manager, and the takeoff seemed normal except that it took a little longer to get airborne. He further stated:
"As we continued down the runway something was wrong, when we were about 50 feet high near the end of the runway, we were not gaining altitude and the tow plane was not performing right. At this point I realized that the cable must have been caught on the front of the glider. I immediately released from the tow plane....When the glider touched the top of the corn the left wing was a little low and it touched down first causing the plane to turn to the left as we touched down. The nose skid caught the ground and twisted the front of the fuselage causing the canopy to break apart..."
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the with glider.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD97LA004