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Glider tow event

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NTSB defining event · CICTT: Glider Towing

CICTT occurrence categories (PDF)CICTT phases of flight (PDF)

All 23 cases45 anywhere in the sequence
Defining event in
23 cases
In the sequence of
45 cases
Fatal cases
7
NTSB code
510

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008. Earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes, so they aren’t counted here.

When and where

In green, cases where it was the defining event; in gray, cases where it came elsewhere in the sequence. The map shows the cases where it was the defining event. Events are coded with the final report, so the latest years are incomplete.

Cases per year

2008Defining eventElsewhere in the sequence2026

Where

Open the map
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT year(c.\"eventDate\") AS year, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases,
    count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) FILTER (WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\") AS defining
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = e.case_mkey
  WHERE e.\"tier2Number\" = '510' AND e.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")
  GROUP BY 1
  ORDER BY 1"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

In these cases

Phase of flight
  • Initial climb11
  • Takeoff8
  • Enroute-climb to cruise3
  • Enroute1
In the probable cause
Aircraft models

Aircraft matched to the registry by N-number and date.

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH defining AS (SELECT * FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"tier2Number\" = '510' AND \"isDefiningEvent\")
  SELECT * FROM (
  SELECT 'Phase of flight' AS kind, e.\"tier1Number\" AS code, max(e.\"eventTier1Name\") AS name, count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey) AS cases
  FROM defining e
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Finding in the probable cause', left(f.\"findingCode\", 8), max(f.\"tier4Name\"), count(DISTINCT f.case_mkey)
  FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f ON f.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND f.aircrafts_position = e.aircrafts_position AND f.\"inProbableCause\"
  WHERE f.\"findingCode\" GLOB '[0-9][0-9]*'
  GROUP BY ALL
  UNION ALL
  SELECT 'Aircraft model', a.aircraft_model_code, any_value(concat_ws(' ', m.manufacturer, m.model)), count(DISTINCT e.case_mkey)
  FROM defining e JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = e.case_mkey AND a.position = e.aircrafts_position
  LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/faa_aircraft_model.parquet' m ON m.code = a.aircraft_model_code
  WHERE a.aircraft_model_code IS NOT NULL
  GROUP BY ALL
  )
  QUALIFY row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY kind ORDER BY cases DESC) <= 10
  ORDER BY kind, cases DESC"

Prints the counts as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

Newest cases · 23

NTSB WPR26LA263Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openSchleicher ASW-27 · Montague, CAJul 15, 2026 · N920KB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN26LA231Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportBailey-Moyes Dragonfly · Whitewater, WIOn June 22, 2026, about 1915 central daylight time, a Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly, N3849A, was involved in an accident near Whitewater, Wisconsin. The pilot of the Dragonfly was not injured. The pilot of the hang glider in tow was fatally injured. The tow…Jun 23, 2026 · N3849A · No damageNTSB CEN25FA248Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper PA-25 · Hot Springs, SDOn July 12, 2025, about 1322 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25, N8186K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hot Springs, South Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…Jul 12, 2025 · N8186K · Substantial damageNTSB ERA24LA098Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir · Zephyrhills, FLThe glider pilot’s failure to release from the towline after the tow plane experienced a loss of engine power.Jan 25, 2024 · N1202Z · Substantial damageNTSB GAA23WA182Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignRobin DR400 · Lienz, AustriaJun 25, 2023 · D-EWLA · Substantial damageNTSB ERA21LA330Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · North Springfield, VTThe check pilot's failure to account for the extended departure distance from the airport during a simulated tow rope break and recovery.Aug 15, 2021 · N2805H · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA506Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrob G103 · San Antonio, TXThe failure of the glider tow rope, which lodged in the glider's rudder and resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly secure the glider's aft canopy.Aug 22, 2019 · N901BG · Substantial damageNTSB ERA18LA211Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer SGS233 · Churchville, MDThe pilots' decision to take off from a wet, upsloping turf runway with a quartering tailwind and elevated density altitude conditions, which degraded takeoff and climb performance and resulted in the glider flight instructor's decision to discontinue the…Aug 5, 2018 · N2832H · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA222Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPiper PA 25-235 · Saratoga Springs, NYThe glider pilot’s failure to maintain pitch during a CG aerotow, which resulted in the loss of control of the tow airplane.Apr 22, 2018 · N7247Z · Substantial damageNTSB ERA18FA128Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportS.Z.D. SZD 48 Jantar STD 2 · LaBelle, FLThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.Apr 14, 2018 · N456RM · Substantial damage
See all 23 cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '510')
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.