# NTSB ERA21LA156: Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, N16MG, Groveland, FL, March 16, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 16, 2021, 12:52 local (16:52 UTC)
- Place: Groveland, FL
- Coordinates: 28.408868, -81.836989 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4089&lon=-81.8370&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102767
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102767/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102767
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA156

## Probable cause

The pilot’s unsuccessful initial attempt to release from the tow plane at the start of an unstable takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a parked vehicle. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the vehicle’s proximity to the active runway.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=38019VD), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: ground support/equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070/cases.md?model=38019VD), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=38019VD), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=38019VD), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=38019VD), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On the day of the accident, the pilot was participating in a glider competition event. During the takeoff roll under aerotow, the glider yawed to the left as the left wingtip dropped to the ground. As the glider approached an access road east of the runway, the pilot attempted to release from the tow plane; however, his hand slipped off the release handle. He was subsequently able to release from the tow plane and attempted to turn and stop but was unsuccessful. The glider struck an unoccupied parked pickup truck. The pilot was seriously injured, and the glider sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. If the pilot’s initial attempt to release from the tow plane had been successful, it likely would have allowed him more time to reduce speed or change course before the collision. The reason for the left yaw was not identified. The truck was parked in or near a strip along the left side of the runway that was to remain clear of personal vehicles during landing operations. Had the truck instead been parked in the designated parking area, the collision may have been prevented or its severity may have been reduced.

## Factual narrative

On March 16, 2020, at 1252 eastern daylight time, an experimental Schempp-Hirth K G Mini Nimbus C glider, N16MG, was substantially damaged during a glider competition held at the Seminole Lake Gliderport in Groveland, Florida. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness described that the glider was on the takeoff roll on runway 18 under aerotow when the left wing dipped and struck the ground, and the glider began to swerve to the left. The pilot released from the towplane and the glider departed the left side of the turf runway. The glider crossed over a paved airport road oriented parallel to the runway, and impacted an unoccupied parked pickup truck, located about 500 ft from the north end of runway 18 and about 150 ft left of the runway centerline. The pilot reported that his glider was lined up on the left side of the runway with the left wingtip about 1 ft from the edge of the runway. Immediately after the towplane began to roll, the glider yawed to the left as the left wing dropped to the ground. As the glider approached the access road, he attempted to release from the tow plane; however, his hand slipped off the release handle. He was subsequently able to release and then attempted to turn and stop before colliding with the truck, but he was unsuccessful. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The towplane pilot reported that the takeoff was performed on the east side of runway 18, and that the line up, rope hookup, and rope tensioning were normal. The wind was from the south at 12 to 15 knots. The tow pilot aborted the takeoff after he observed the glider’s release from the tow rope. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the glider sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, which was crushed and separated forward of the pilot’s seat. The right wing sustained leading edge impact damage that extended aft of the wing spar, between 1 and 4 ft outboard of the wing root. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the control surfaces. The pilot reported that the truck was parked in an area where the event organizers had asked participants to not park. The truck was parked perpendicular to the runway, about 30 ft (to the east, or left) from the single-lane access road that ran parallel to the runway at the runway’s left edge. A review of the guidance materials provided to the event participants revealed a diagram (see figure) that depicted hashed areas on either side of the runway which were denoted as “landing rolloff areas” that were to be clear of personnel and vehicles during landing operations. The width of the hashed areas was not specified. The text portion of the parking guidance indicated that parking was permitted “before the launch” on either side of the runway “at thenorth end.” An approved trailer parking area was located about 50 ft directly east of the truck against a tree line. Approximate location of Collision with Truck Figure - Diagram of Facility

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16MG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16MG-2022-03-25), registration cancelled 2022-03-25, S/N 104, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH K G MINI-NIMBUS C
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-k-g-mini-nimbus-c) (registry code 38019VD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 104
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 1503
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2020
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 6FL0, Seminole Lake Gliderport, runway 18, 3,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,800 total, 248 in this make and model, 10,100 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: ZPH, 21 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 20210316022229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210316022229A), Mar 16, 2021: Schempp-Hirth K G MINI-NIMBUS C, Groveland, FL, Substantial damage. On take off roll the aircraft veered to the left of centerline. The aircraft was being towed and the tow pilot did not 'release' the aircraft but waited for…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102767. 12.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 7.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15390169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120_ERA21LA156_c_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Tow pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 284 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15390498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20Tow_pilot_statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 972 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15393176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20excerpt%20from%20maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15393417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA21LA156-Rel.pdf
- Seminole -lake soaring competition - pilot information (item 5, PDF, 18 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15477858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05-01%202021%20Seniors%20Pilot%20Kit%20Rev_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage photographs (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15393186&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA12LA156-Rel.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.

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