# Accident 19980703015749A: Entwic PHOEBUSC, Perry, SC, July 3, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 1998, 16:00 local time
- Place: Perry, SC
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5395° N, 81.7210° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5395&lon=-81.7210&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2157, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2157-2003-11-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Waggon UND Maschinenbau PHOEBUS C (registry code 9620212, https://openairdocs.org/model/waggon-und-maschinenbau-phoebus-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ENTWIC PHOEBUSC
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 70 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980703015749A

## Narrative

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

(.4)ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED FOR TAKEOFF BY A TRUCK. AS THE GLIDER REACHED ITS TAKEOFF SPEED OF 45 KNOTS, HE REMEMBERS PULLING BACK ON THE CONTROL STICK.  FROM THAT POINT ON, THE PILOT HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE.  ACCORDING TO THE TOW DRIVER, ON TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER ROTATED SHARPLY NOSE UP, ROLLED LEFT, AND STRUCK THE GROUND INVERTED.  THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN THIS TYPE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE GLIDER IN THE LAST 30 DAYS.  HE ALSO STATED THE GLIDER STALLED AND BEGAN A LEFT SPIN ON INITIAL TOW, DUE TO THE PILOT ROTATING TOO HARD, TOO FAST, AND TOO LOW TO THE GROUND.  THE NOSE PITCHED UP ABOVE 90 DEGREES, ALLOWING THE TOW CABLE TO AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE, AND THE GLIDER STALLED APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  IT IMPACTED THE GROUND INVERTED, DOWNWIND FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.                                       (-23) THE GLIDER STALLED ON INITIAL AUTO TOW LAUNCH, AT ABOUT 75 FEET ALTITUDE. THE NOSE PITCHED UP BEYOND 90 DEGREES ALLOWING THE TOW CABLE TO AUTOMATICALLY BACK RELEASE AND THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND INVERTED 120 FEET DOWNWIND OF RUNWAY CENTER LINE AND SLIDING TO A STOP IN 30 FEET. THE CAN OPY WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS CONSCIOUS BUT IN A DAZE. PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES OF THE FACE, ARMS AND KNEES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ATL98LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA090), Jul 3, 1998: Mbb Phoebus C (N2157), Perry, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control during takeoff, leading to an in-flight collision with the ground. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience in a high performance glider.

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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