# Accident 19961006031149A: Trnsqp KR03A, Kutztown, PA, October 6, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 6, 1996, 11:00 local time
- Place: Kutztown, PA
- Airport: Kutztown Aviation Service Inc
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5198° N, 75.7699° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5198&lon=-75.7699&mi=10
- Aircraft: N288S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N288S-2013-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: WSK Pzl-Krosno KR-03A (registry code 1130847, https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-krosno-kr-03a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TRNSQP KR03A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961006031149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

GLIDER SNAGGED GROUND CABLE ON TAKEOFF, GAINED ALTITUDE, ATTEMPTED TO MAKE 180 TURN, CRASHED IN A CORN FIELD. (.4)THE PILOT AND PASSENGER OF THE GLIDER WERE TOWED BY A CESSNA 182 FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 2,435 FOOT LONG GRASS RUNWAY. A WINCH CABLE WAS LYING IN THE GRASS, PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY, EXTENDING FROM A GLIDER WINCH TRUCK. A WITNESS SAW THE GLIDER APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE WINCH CABLE HANGING FROM THE NOSE AREA OF THE GLIDER.  AT AN ALTITUDE OF 40 TO 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE GLIDER PILOT REALIZED THE GLIDER HAD CAUGHT THE WINCH CABLE, AND RELEASED THE TOW LINE. THE TOW LINE AND THE WINCH CABLE DROPPED FROM THE GLIDER, AND THE GLIDER PILOT EXECUTED A TURN TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER CAME IN CONTACT WITH STANDING CORN STALKS, THE GLIDER ROTATED AROUND THE LEFT WING TIP AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED 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. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE WITH GLIDER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD97LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA004), Oct 6, 1996: Wsk Pzl Krosno KR-03A (N288S), Kutztown, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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