# Accident 20020426012099A: Piper PA18150, CO, April 26, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 26, 2002, 12:08 local time
- Place: CO
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9844° N, 104.8400° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9844&lon=-104.8400&mi=10
- Aircraft: N990CC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N990CC-2004-12-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 (registry code 7101843, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-cub-crafters-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02GA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02GA039) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020426012099A

## Narrative

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

(-23) NOTE: INSPECTOR REQUESTED STATEMENT FROM THE USAFA CADET PILOTS THROUGH THE MILITARY POINT-OF-CONTACT; AS OF THIS DATE, NO STATEMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED. THE NARRATIVE BELOW RESULTS FROM SECOND HAND CONVERSATIONS WITH NTSB. AIRCRAFT WAS ON A TOWING OPERATION AT THE USAF ACADEMY, CO. PILOT PICKED UP GLIDER WITH STUDENT/INSTRUCTOR AND DEPARTED SOUTH. DURING A CLIMBING DOWNWIND DEPARTURE, THE GLIDER PILOTS STATED THAT THE TOW AIRCRAFT DRIFTED BELOW THEIR FIELD OF SIGHT. THE GLIDER PROCEDURE IN THIS EVENT IS TO DISCONNECT AFTER A PRE-DETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. GLIDER CREW STATED THEY ALSO LOST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOW AIRCRAFT DURING THIS PERIOD. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL DISCONNECTS AND DURING THIS TIME SHE FELT A SHARP TUG ON THE TOWROPE WHICH APPARENTLY WAS THE "WEAK LINK" BREAKING, SEPARATING THE TOWROPE. SHE REPORTED THAT SHE WAS "LOSING THE TOW." SHE THEN STATED THAT "THE TOW HAS STRUCK THE GROUND." THE GLIDER RETURNED TO THE USAFA FIELD FOR A SAFE LANDING.

## 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 DEN02GA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02GA039), Apr 26, 2002: Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 (N990CC), USAF Academy, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of control for undetermined reasons.

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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