DEN99LA152

The pilot said he decided to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern one more time before securing it for the day. The windsock indicated the wind was out of the northeast, so he took off on runway 6 and made a crosswind turn midfield. He saw a glider release from its tow plane, and he watched as the tow plane landed and taxied to its staging area. The glider was then 'on a downwind and at the position he was at. . .I had plenty of time to land and turn off.' He took his eyes off the glider to concentrate on his landing. When he touched down, ground personnel directed his attention to the glider that was touching down on the opposite end of the runway. The pilot said he was rolling too fast to apply brakes, so he applied power and lifted off, intending to land on the parallel taxiway. The glider landed and exited the runway at the center intersection. As the pilot gave way to the right, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. Airport procedures call for takeoffs on runway 06 and landings on runway 24, weather and traffic permitting. According to FAR 91.113(d)(2), 'A glider has the right-of-way over an airship, airplane, or rotorcraft.'

On August 21, 1999, approximately 1100 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25, N6249Z, operated by Jensen Aircraft, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an aborted landing at Salida, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Salida approximately 1055.

According to the pilot's accident report, the operator had recently rebuilt N6249Z, and he had test flown the airplane. After a photographic session, the pilot decided to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern one more time before securing it for the day. The windsock indicated the wind was out of the northeast, so he took off on runway 6. He saw a glider, N99957, release from its tow plane, and he watched as the tow plane landed and taxied to its staging area. The glider was then "on a downwind and at the position he was at. . .I had plenty of time to land and turn off." He took his eyes off the glider to concentrate on his landing. When he touched down, ground personnel directed his attention to the glider that was touching down on the opposite end of the runway. "Evidently, he turned off his downwind pretty abruptly," the pilot wrote. N6249Z was "rolling too fast" to apply brakes, so the pilot elected to give way to the right. He applied power and lifted off, intending to land on the parallel taxiway. The glider exited the runway at the center intersection. The pilot turned slightly and the airplane "stalled."

The pilot of the glider, a Blanik L-13, N99957, said he released from the tow plane at an altitude of 8,800 feet "for a pattern tow over Poncha Springs." The glider was radio equipped, and the pilot said he reported "left downwind for [runway] 24." He then noticed an airplane near the end of runway 6, and asked if its pilot had him in sight. There was no answer. Shortly thereafter, the airplane took off, turning left at midfield. The pilot said he radioed his position when he was on base leg and when he turned onto final approach to runway 24. It was then that he noticed the airplane on final approach to runway 6. He watched as the airplane landed, then turn off to the north side of the runway onto the grass. He said that at that point, the airplane was "completely clear of the runway." Then he saw the airplane "take off at a very sharp angle of attack, bank right, stall" and impact the ground. "It looked a lot like a hammerhead stall at 30 feet," he wrote.

In a written statement submitted to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office, the tow plane pilot said he towed N99957 "to altitude for a pattern tow." After the glider pilot released the tow, he entered the traffic pattern to drop the tow rope and land on runway 6. He noticed N6249Z at the end of the runway waiting to take off. After clearing the runway and shutting off his engine, he heard the pilot of N99957 announce his intention to enter the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 24. At about this time, N6249Z took off. When he saw both aircraft approaching each other, he "started waving [his] arms at [the pilot of N6249Z. . .hoping he would see me, which he acknowledged that he did see me. He said N6249Z touched down on runway 6 and N99957 "had touched down" on runway 24. The pilot of N6249Z "applied brakes and [the] tires squealed, then he turned to left off the runway and applied power, pulled the nose up, turned to the right, stalled in a right turn, and hit the ground."

Several other witnesses also submitted written statements. Witness #1 said the airplane "was about 100 to 75 feet in the air" when it "came up sharply turning to the right. The plane stalled and nose[d] straight into [the] ground." Witness #2, the airport's manager, and witness #3, the airport commission's chairman, corroborated what the glider and tow plane pilots said. Several witnesses did not believe N6249Z was equipped with a radio. Witness #4, the operator of N99957, said the airplane was equipped with a radio. Witness #3 said the airplane was not required to have a radio to operate at the airport.

The Airport Facility Directory (Southwest U.S.) states: "Runway 24 recommended for landing, runway 06 for departure weather and traffic permitting." According to the Salida Airport's manager, this NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) follows weather data and airport advisories that are broadcast on the UNICOM (universal integrated communication) frequency (see attachments).

According to FAR 91.113(d)(2), "A glider has the right-of-way over an airship, airplane, or rotorcraft."