What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During the takeoff sequence prior to reaching 200 feet, the tow pilot noted that the spoilers were open on the glider. He wagged the rudder, which is the signal to check spoilers closed. The glider pilot mis-interpreted the signal to mean release, which he did. The pilot initiated a turn to land on the airport property, even though the turn was to a downwind heading. After touching down, the pilot lost control of the glider, which ground looped. Struck the tail on the ground and broke off the tailboom just aft of the cockpit.
As the FAA filed it
DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE PRIOR TO REACHING 200 FEET, THE TOW PILOT NOTED THAT THE SPOILERS WERE OPEN ON THE GLIDER. HE WAGGED THE RUDDER, WHICH IS THE SIGNAL TO CHECK SPOILERS CLOSED. THE GLIDER PILOT MIS-INTERPRETED THE SIGNAL TO MEAN RELEASE, WHICH HE DID. THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY, EVEN THOUGH THE TURN WAS TO A DOWNWIND HEADING. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE GLIDER, WHICH GROUND LOOPED. STRUCK THE TAIL ON THE GROUND AND BROKE OFF THE TAILBOOM JUST AFT OF THE COCKPIT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N361KS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.