- Date
- June 19, 2009, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wellington, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5462NGrob G103
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090619009519A
- Case key
- 74090
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider during takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the initial takeoff roll was normal, but that after a premature takeoff due to wind gusts and thermals the glider controls became ineffective. The pilot attempted to pull the tow line release knob and reported that the tow line “back-released,” resulting in the glider entering a stall. During the impact with terrain, the glider's empennage separated partially, just aft of the fuselage. Examination of the tow line release mechanism and glider systems revealed no mechanical anomalies.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the initial takeoff roll was normal, but that after a premature takeoff due to wind gusts and thermals the glider controls became ineffective. The pilot attempted to pull the tow line release knob and reported that the tow line “back-released,” resulting in the glider entering a stall. During the impact with terrain, the glider's empennage separated partially, just aft of the fuselage. Examination of the tow line release mechanism and glider systems revealed no mechanical anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5462N
- Reported as
- Grob G103 (TWIN II)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3875
- Airframe hours
- 3,880
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 25, 2009 · 27 hours before
- Departed
- 4CO2 · Wellington, CO
- Destination
- 4CO2 · Wellington, CO
- Airport
- 4CO2 · Owl Canyon Gliderport, runway 15, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 10, 2009
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 7,219 total · 127 in this make and model · 7,162 as pilot in command · 98 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KFNL, 21 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 24.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5462N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.