What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 5, 2018 at approximately 1500 EST, the pilot and a tow pilot attempted a glider tow operation at aiport 0W3. The glider pilot stated that normal operation would be to use the grass runway 01/19, but due to the recent high amounts of rain, that runway was unusable at the time. The grass next to runway 10/28 was used instead. Runway 10/28 provides less distance to obstacles off the end of the runway. The aircraft took off on a 280 heading. According to weather information, the density altitude was approximately 2500 ft. with a 5 knot tailwind. The pilot stated that the takeoff sequence appeared normal. During climbout the pilot said that the climb seemed slow and may have possibly lost some altitude. The pilot believed at that point that they may not clear the trees, approximately 1200 ft from the end of runway 28. At this point the pilot released from the tow aircraft and attempted to make a right turn back towards the airport. According to the pilot he made about a 130 degree turn before the left wing struck a group of trees on the edge of the field. The aircraft then spun about 270 to the left and came to a stop. After inspection ,there was impact damage to the left wing, and the upper surface of the left wing was severly wrinkled, and the tail section was bent approximately 90 degrees to the left of the aircraft. The pilot of the tow plane reported that he did not notice any issues with the performance of the aircraft and landed without incident.
Weather: met ar kbwi 2254Z 19007KT iosm ·ra SC:T045CB bkn 180 BKN250 27/23 A3012 rmk A02 pk wno 290030/2225
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 5, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 EST, THE PILOT AND A TOW PILOT ATTEMPTED A GLIDER TOW OPERATION AT AIPORT 0W3. THE GLIDER PILOT STATED THAT NORMAL OPERATION WOULD BE TO USE THE GRASS RUNWAY 01/19, BUT DUE TO THE RECENT HIGH AMOUNTS OF RAIN, THAT RUNWAY WAS UNUSABLE AT THE TIME. THE GRASS NEXT TO RUNWAY 10/28 WAS USED INSTEAD. RUNWAY 10/28 PROVIDES LESS DISTANCE TO OBSTACLES OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF ON A 280 HEADING. ACCORDING TO WEATHER INFORMATION, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2500 FT. WITH A 5 KNOT TAILWIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE APPEARED NORMAL. DURING CLIMBOUT THE PILOT SAID THAT THE CLIMB SEEMED SLOW AND MAY HAVE POSSIBLY LOST SOME ALTITUDE. THE PILOT BELIEVED AT THAT POINT THAT THEY MAY NOT CLEAR THE TREES, APPROXIMATELY 1200 FT FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 28. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW AIRCRAFT AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE MADE ABOUT A 130 DEGREE TURN BEFORE THE LEFT WING STRUCK A GROUP OF TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SPUN ABOUT 270 TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO A STOP. AFTER INSPECTION ,THERE WAS IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING WAS SEVERLY WRINKLED, AND THE TAIL SECTION WAS BENT APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT OF THE TOW PLANE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY ISSUES WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT.
WEATHER: MET AR KBWI 2254Z 19007KT IOSM ·RA SC:T045CB BKN 180 BKN250 27/23 A3012 RMK A02 PK WNO 290030/2225
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.