20070701010009A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Schemp DISCUS CS · Freehold, NY · July 1, 2007

Date: July 1, 2007 · 12:28 local
Place: Freehold, NY
Airport: Freehold
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N42CA
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL07CA101
Reported as: Schemp Discuscs
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 104 total17 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N42CARegistered now · Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CSS/N 239CS · Built 1997 Airframe modelSchempp-Hirth DISCUS CS Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) PIC stated that launch using runway 30, and climb out were normal until he encountered turbulence and bumped his head on the canopy. PIC notified tow pilot of turbulence by radio and experienced turbulence and bumped head again. The second time he hit his head, he inadvertently pulled the tow line release cable. PIC stated that he immediately turned left and pitched nose down in an attempt to return to the airport. PIC stated that he realized he wasn't going to make the airport and leveled wings just before hitting trees. Aircraft came to rest in a large tree approximately 40 ft above ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PIC STATED THAT LAUNCH USING RUNWAY 30, AND CLIMB OUT WERE NORMAL UNTIL HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND BUMPED HIS HEAD ON THE CANOPY. PIC NOTIFIED TOW PILOT OF TURBULENCE BY RADIO AND EXPERIENCED TURBULENCE AND BUMPED HEAD AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME HE HIT HIS HEAD, HE INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE TOW LINE RELEASE CABLE. PIC STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED LEFT AND PITCHED NOSE DOWN IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. PIC STATED THAT HE REALIZED HE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE THE AIRPORT AND LEVELED WINGS JUST BEFORE HITTING TREES. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A LARGE TREE APPROXIMATELY 40 FT ABOVE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL07CA101Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportFreehold, NYThe pilot's inadvertent activation of the tow release handle at a low altitude following an encounter with turbulence.Jul 1, 2007 · Substantial damage