- Date
- September 29, 2001, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place
- Marshfield, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N68PRAviaStrottel AC 4C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 4, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20010929028599A
- Case key
- 53579
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 decision to release from the tow plane during the takeoff. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's vision was restricted by his hat during the takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The glider contacted the runway during takeoff. The pilot reported that approximately 200 feet into the ground run, the glider became airborne. After reaching an altitude of about 5 feet, the glider settled to the runway and bounced. The pilot reported that he was wearing headphones, which slipped forward when the glider contacted the runway. As the headphones slipped forward, the pilot's hat was pulled down over his eyes. The glider became airborne again and because he was unable to see the tow plane, the pilot released the glider from the tow. The glider impacted hard on the runway and the pilot suffered a compression fracture in his back.
Factual narrative
On September 29, 2001, at 1425 eastern daylight time, an AviaStrottel AC 4C glider, N68PR, collided with the terrain during takeoff on runway 10 (2,800 feet by 75 feet, grass) at the Brooks Field, Marshall, Michigan. The private pilot was seriously injured and the glider received minor damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that approximately 200 feet into the ground run, the glider became airborne. After reaching an altitude of about 5 feet, the glider settled to the runway and bounced. The pilot reported that he was wearing headphones, which slipped forward when the glider contacted the runway. As the headphones slipped forward, the pilot's hat was pulled down over his eyes. The glider became airborne again and because he was unable to see the tow plane, the pilot released the glider from the tow. The glider impacted hard on the runway and the pilot suffered a compression fracture in his back.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N68PR
- Reported as
- AviaStrottel AC 4C
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 044
- Airframe hours
- 100
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John K. Gibson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · January 10, 2001 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- RMY · Marshfield, MI
- Airport
- RMY · Brooks Field, runway 10, 2,800 × 75 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
- 52
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Last flight review
- May 26, 2001
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 94 total · 5 in this make and model · 36 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.34 inHg
- Observed at
- JXN, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.