ATL95LA080

The glider instructor (CFI) reported that as the glider was being towed on the takeoff roll, the student pilot accidentally activated the spoilers. After lift-off, the tow plane could not gain sufficient altitude, while towing the glider in this configuration, so the tow pilot released the glider at an altitude of about 80 feet above ground level. The instructor pilot turned the glider to avoid trees and attempted to land in a clearing; however, the wing of the glider contacted the ground. The glider then rotated about 90 degrees and slid to a stop with substantial damage.

On April 8, 1995, at 1700 central daylight time, a Blanik L-13 glider, N48039, collided with the ground while maneuvering for an emergency landing following an aborted takeoff near Brownsboro, Alabama. The training flight operated under provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The glider sustained substantial damage; the flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight departed Brownsboro at 1658 hours.

The flight instructor reported that during the takeoff roll, he was occupied assisting the student with the takeoff. He did not realize how much of the runway had been used during the takeoff roll until after the aircraft was in the air. He stated that the student was a large man, and that because of his size, his knee was located immediately under the spoiler handle. The student pilot failed to keep his hand on the spoiler handle to prevent accidental activation of the spoiler, and inadvertently deployed the spoiler with his left knee during takeoff roll as the glider was towed. Before the flight instructor could gain control of the glider, at an altitude of about 80 feet above ground level, the tow aircraft pilot released the glider. The flight instructor attempted to maneuver the glider for a landing, but the left wing collided with the ground.