NTSB investigations
23 cases where the defining event was Glider tow event.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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.
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
Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB WPR26LA263Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openSchleicher ASW-27 · Montague, CANTSB 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…NTSB 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…NTSB 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.NTSB GAA23WA182Accident · 1 fatalClass 5 · ForeignRobin DR400 · Lienz, AustriaNTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB 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…NTSB 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.NTSB 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.NTSB CEN17LA305Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBurkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G102 Club Astir Iiib · Marion, OHThe pilot’s failure to follow the before takeoff checklist, which resulted in an improper takeoff configuration and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain during a departure climb.NTSB GAA17CA466Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAB Sportine Aviacija LAK 17 · Uvalde, TXThe ground crewmember’s failure to fully engage the tow hook release arm during preflight, which resulted in the premature release of the glider at insufficient altitude to complete a safe landing.NTSB GAA15CA177Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCentrair 101A · Hartford, WIThe glider pilot's failure to connect the elevator to the elevator control rod during the assembly process, resulting in a loss of control, and a collision with terrain during takeoff.NTSB WPR14LA367Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA 25-235 · Warner Springs, CAThe glider pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb while being towed, which led to the tow plane's unstable flight and its subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the tow pilot's delayed release of the…NTSB WPR12CA084Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportSchweizer SGS 2-33A · Peoria, AZThe glider pilot released from the tow airplane at a lower altitude than the planned altitude, which resulted in an off-airport landing.NTSB ERA11FA401Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSlingsby Capstan Type 49B · Hollywood, MDThe glider pilot’s improper response to the “check spoilers” signal from the tow pilot. Contributing to the accident was the glider pilot’s failure to confirm that the spoilers were closed and locked before takeoff, and the glider copilot’s improper crew…NTSB CEN10FA115Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-235 · Boulder, COThe failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other resulting in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the lack of perceived visual relative motion of the Piper and the Cirrus to the pilot of each airplane, the terrain background, and the…NTSB WPR09LA449Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSchweizer SGS 1-34 · Lake Elsinore, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider after the tow line released during the initial climb.NTSB CEN09CA577Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportKetonen Schreder · Ionia, MIThe pilot failed to maintain control of the glider during the aero-tow launch.NTSB WPR09LA381Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSchempp Hirth Discus CS · Williams, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain after intentionally releasing from the tow plane at a low altitude during the initial climb.NTSB WPR09CA368Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportSchweizer SGU 2-22CK · Ephrata, WAThe premature launch signal given by the wing walker.NTSB CEN09LA278Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGlasflugel H201B · Meadow Lake Airport, COA programming anomaly within the winch's computer aided launch control system, which incorrectly limited the maximum winch speed during launch of the glider.NTSB CEN09CA007Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLet Blanik · Gardner, KSThe pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff when the climb performance of the tow plane and the glider were inadequate. Contributing to the accident were the high density altitude and the terrain-induced turbulence.