# NTSB CHI02LA131: Glaser-Dirks-Flugzeubau DG-100G, N169LM, Union, IL, May 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2002, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Union, IL - Coordinates: 42.229278, -88.539131 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2293&lon=-88.5391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration West Chicago FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54739/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54739 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA131 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the aero-tow takeoff. Factors to the accident were the high wind velocity and the gusting wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the glider during the initial takeoff phase of an aero-tow launch. The pilot reported, "When I was ready to launch, I gave the wing-runner the signal to lift the wing and he did. I [signaled] the tow plane to begin take-off. At the start of the take-off roll, I gave a little right rudder input as the glider was veering left of the intended path. Almost immediately I saw the nose of the glider was moving very erratically. I decided to attempt to abort the launch by pulling the release." The pilot stated that after the tow-rope release was made, "... the plane was a few feet above the ground and it was out of control." The pilot reported the glider impacted the terrain on the north side of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems or malfunctions with the glider. A weather observation station, located at the De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB), about 16 nautical miles (nm) from the accident site on a 213 degrees magnetic heading, recorded the wind conditions approximately 8 minutes after the accident as 260 degrees magnetic at 15 knots gusting to 18 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2002, at 1400 central daylight time, a Glaser-Dirks-Flugzeubau DG-100G, N169LM, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff on runway 27 (2,300 feet by 100 feet, dry/turf) at the Sky Soaring Airport (55LL), Union, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported serious injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, the accident occurred during an aero-tow launch. The pilot reported, "When I was ready to launch, I gave the wing-runner the signal to lift the wing and he did. I [signaled] the tow plane to begin take-off. At the start of the take-off roll, I gave a little right rudder input as the glider was veering left of the intended path. Almost immediately I saw the nose of the glider was moving very erratically. I decided to attempt to abort the launch by pulling the release." The pilot stated that after the tow-rope release was made, "... the plane was a few feet above the ground and it was out of control." The pilot reported the glider impacted the terrain on the north side of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems or malfunctions with the glider. A weather observation station, located at the De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB), about 16 nautical miles (nm) from the accident site on a 213 degrees magnetic heading, recorded the weather conditions approximately 8 minutes after the accident as: Observation Time: 1408 Wind: 260 degrees magnetic at 15 knots gusting to 18 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 17 degrees Celsius Dew Point: -13 degrees Celsius Pressure: 30.30 inches-of-mercury ## Aircraft - Registration: [N169LM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N169LM), registered now, S/N E169G135, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glaser-Dirks-Flugzeubau DG-100G - Registry model: [Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100G](https://openairdocs.org/model/glaser-dirks-flugzeugbau-dg-100g) (registry code 3802504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: E1696135 - Airframe hours: 1055 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Allen Mendralla - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2002 - Departed: 55LL, Union, IL - Destination: 55LL, Union, IL - Airport: 55LL, Sky Soaring, runway 27, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; commercial; last flight review June 20, 2001; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: DKB, 16 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020510010159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020510010159A), May 10, 2002: Glaser DG100G, Union, IL, No damage. (.19) On may 10, 2002, at 1400 central daylight time, a Glaser-dirks-flugzeubau DG-100G, N169LM, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54739. 382 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436532&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- 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.