- Date
- June 19, 1996, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Mattoon, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N65809Schweizer SGS 2-33AK
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 25, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960619035989A
- Case key
- 10407
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 directional control of the glider. Factors were the runway sign and the failure of the pilot to maintain a visual lookout.
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
According to statements provided by Civil Air Patrol personnel, the glider was being towed by a Cessna 172 at the wing flight encampment. As the glider and tow airplane accelerated down the runway, the glider 'drifted left of centerline. The left wing was down and [the wing] collided with a plastic runway apron sign.' The glider released from the tow airplane, departed the runway, and came to rest in a grassy area. The two pilots egressed uneventfully. The tow airplane aborted the takeoff uneventfully. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. No evidence of flight control malfunction or mechanical anomaly was reported.
Factual narrative
On June 19, 1996, at 1350 central daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33AK, N65809, operated by the Civil Air Patrol, was substantially damaged when it impacted a sign during takeoff at the Coles County Airport in Mattoon, Illinois. The pilot and student pilot reported no injuries. The local, public use, training flight originated about 1350. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed.
According to statements provided by Civil Air Patrol personnel, the glider was being towed by a Cessna 172 at the wing flight encampment. As the glider and tow airplane accelerated down the runway, the glider "drifted left of centerline. The left wing was down and [the wing] collided with a plastic runway apron sign." The glider released from the tow airplane, departed the runway, and came to rest in a grassy area. The two pilots egressed uneventfully. The tow airplane aborted the takeoff uneventfully.
Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. No evidence of flight control malfunction or mechanical anomaly was reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N65809
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS 2-33AK
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 311
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MTO
- Airport
- MTO · Coles County, runway 29R, 6,501 × 150 ft, concrete
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
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 750 total · 550 in this make and model · 710 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.