# Accident 20000507040379A: Amtr HP18, Kutztown, PA, May 7, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2000, 12:40 local time
- Place: Kutztown, PA
- Airport: Kutztown Aviation Service Inc
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3696° N, 76.2997° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3696&lon=-76.2997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N67TT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67TT-2007-10-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Morgan Michael L HP 18 (registry code 05647UX, https://openairdocs.org/model/morgan-michael-l-hp-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR HP18
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000507040379A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ON MAY 7, 2000, ABOUT 1240 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HOMEBUILT HP-18, A GLIDER, N67TT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE KUTZTOWN AIRPORT, KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A POWERED AIRPLANE WAS TOWING THE GLIDER. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE GLIDER LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND BEGAN TO RISE TOO HIGH. THE PILOT OVERCORRECTED THE GLIDER AND IT STRUCK THE GROUND. "PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS" ENSUED, AND THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL THEM. THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOWROPE, AND THE GLIDER "CARTWHEELED" ON THE GROUND BEFORE COMING TO REST INVERTED.  THE PILOT REPORTED 250 HOURS OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN GLIDERS, WITH NO EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL.                                (-23) WHILE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED ON TAKE-OFF, THE GLIDER BEGAN PITCH OSCILLATIONS WHICH BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED EACH TIME. THE TAIL OF THE GLIDER STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED.

## 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 NYC00LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA130), May 7, 2000: Ludeman HP-18 (N67TT), Kutztown, PA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in make and model.

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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