# NTSB ERA09CA024: Lange Flugzeugbau E1 Antares, N4929R, Winter Haven, FL, October 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2008, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Winter Haven, FL - Coordinates: 28.062778, -81.753051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0628&lon=-81.7531&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69322/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA024 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot of the other airplane to announce his intentions prior to takeoff, resulting in a runway incursion. Contributing to the accident was the limited forward visibility due to the runway slope. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause); cases with it: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=7020250), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=7020250), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7020250), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) (defining event); cases with it: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md?model=7020250), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7020250), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7020250), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was preparing his self-launching glider for a local flight at the uncontrolled airport. As he approached the hold short line for runway 11, he announced his position and intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency. He entered the runway and commenced the takeoff roll. At 40 knots, he observed another airplane taking off on runway 29 (opposite direction). He veered the glider to the right into the grass, and the landing gear struck a gopher hole. The right wing struck a runway sign and the glider came to rest. The glider pilot asked the other pilot if he heard his takeoff transmission, and the other pilot replied no, he did not have a radio in his airplane. A crown in the runway does not allow a full view of opposing traffic on runway 11/29. After the accident, the pilot reported that his glider club will post a marshaller with a radio with full view of the runway to provide an "all clear" before takeoff. ## Factual narrative The pilot was preparing his self-launching glider for a local flight at the uncontrolled airport. As he approached the hold short line for runway 11, he announced his position and intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency. He entered the runway and commenced the takeoff roll. At 40 knots, he observed another airplane taking off on runway 29 (opposite direction). He veered the glider to the right into the grass, and the landing gear struck a gopher hole. The right wing struck a runway sign and the glider came to rest. The glider pilot asked the other pilot if he heard his takeoff transmission, and the other pilot replied no, he did not have a radio in his airplane. A crown in the runway does not allow a full view of opposite direction traffic on runway 11/29. After the accident, the pilot reported that his glider club will post a marshaller with a radio with full view of the runway to provide an "all clear" before takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4929R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4929R), registered now, S/N 33E31, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LANGE FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH E1 ANTARES - Registry model: [Lange Flugzeugbau E1 ANTARES](https://openairdocs.org/model/lange-flugzeugbau-e1-antares) (registry code 7020250) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 33E31 - Airframe hours: 192 - Engines: LANGE FLUGZEUGBAU LE 42 47 horsepower - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Buchanan Roger N - Registered owner: Buchanan Roger N - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2008 - Departed: GIF, Winter Haven, FL - Destination: GIF, Winter Haven, FL - Airport: GIF, Gilbert Field, runway 11, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 3,250 total, 192 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GIF ## 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 20081018857159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081018857159A), Oct 18, 2008: Langef E1ANTARES, Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 18, 2008, a lange flugzeugbau gmbh, powered glider, N4929R, registered to [privacy data omitted], attempted a take off on runway 11 at Winter… 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.