# Aerial tow equipment section - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › [Fuselage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010353) › Aerial tow equipment section - NTSB code: 01035301 - Cases: 7 - In the probable cause: 7 - Fatal cases: 3 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035301/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035301/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035301 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 1 / 1 - 2009: 3 / 3 - 2017: 1 / 1 - 2018: 1 / 1 - 2019: 1 / 1 ## Defining events in these cases - [Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510): 3 cases - [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 1 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 1 cases - [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 1 cases - [Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Schweizer SGS 1-34](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-34): 1 cases - [Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100G](https://openairdocs.org/model/glaser-dirks-flugzeugbau-dg-100g): 1 cases - [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j): 1 cases - [Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g103c-twin-iii-acro): 1 cases - [Burkhart Grob G 103 TWIN II](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkhart-grob-g-103-twin-ii): 1 cases - [AB Sportine Aviacija LAK-17A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ab-sportine-aviacija-lak-17a): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 2 cases - [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 1 cases - [Incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010) (Personnel issues): 1 cases - [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 1 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 1 cases - [Equipment/furnishings, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022500) (Aircraft): 1 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB GAA19CA506](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA506), Aug 22, 2019: Grob G103 (N901BG), San Antonio, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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 ERA18FA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA180), Jun 27, 2018: Cessna 150J (N60111), Manteo, NC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of control due to the banner tow rope becoming entangled with the left horizontal stabilizer in crosswind conditions. - [NTSB GAA17CA466](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA466), Aug 2, 2017: AB Sportine Aviacija LAK 17 (N128LA), Uvalde, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The 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 WPR09LA449](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA449), Sep 12, 2009: Schweizer SGS 1-34 (N7656), Lake Elsinore, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider after the tow line released during the initial climb. - [NTSB WPR09LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA313), Jun 25, 2009: Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A (N800JM), Cedar Valley, UT, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently applied the tow release handle. - [NTSB CEN09LA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA353), Jun 14, 2009: Burkhart Grob G103C Twin III Acro (N103MS), Gregory, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the turn to return for landing, which resulted an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the ground winch… - [NTSB LAX08LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA242), Jul 23, 2008: Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100G (N132S), Truckee, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A malfunction of the tow release mechanism. NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.