ERA24FA362

The 84-year-old pilot was being towed for takeoff in his glider when the accident occurred. According to the tow pilot, the glider became airborne earlier than normal and climbed above and to the left of the tow plane. The glider started pulling the tail of the tow plane up and the tow pilot had to release the glider when they were about 100 to 150 ft above the ground. Witnesses described that the glider pitched up before entering a nose low, left descending turn that continue to ground impact on the grass runway. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The witnesses also stated that the pilot acted and sounded normal before the accident; however, once airborne, his actions were not consistent with his normal flying habits. The witnesses described him as an active glider pilot who was meticulous and very conservative with his flying. Postaccident toxicological testing of blood and liver samples from the pilot detected the drugs Metformin and Pravastatin. These medications are not considered impairing and likely did not pose a hazard to flight or contribute to the accident. An autopsy of the pilot did not detect that he had a medical event that would have contributed to the accident. Since no mechanical or medical issues were identified, the investigation was not able to determine why the pilot lost control on takeoff.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 30, 2024, about 1321 eastern daylight time, a Schleicher Alexander GMBH ASH 26 E glider, N264JM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Caesar Creek Soaring Club Gliderport (2OH9), Waynesville, Ohio. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the tow pilot, this was the third and final tow-flight of the day. He knew the glider pilot and had towed him several times. The tow pilot said he performed a radio check with the glider pilot and the glider pilot waved his rudder when he was ready for takeoff. The tow pilot said he rotated about halfway down the 2,800-ft-long grass runway. At that time, he noted that the glider was already airborne, which was “unusual.” By the time the tow pilot was about three-quarters of the way down the runway, and about 100-150 ft above the ground, the glider had climbed above and to the left of the tow plane. The glider started pulling the tail of the tow plane up and the tow pilot said he had to apply full aft elevator control to keep the nose of the tow plane up. The tow pilot released the glider and felt the tow rope release. He climbed out and returned to the airport. While climbing out, he momentarily saw the glider make a left turn but did not see it impact the ground. There was no communication from the glider pilot during the short flight. A witness, who connected the tow rope and ran alongside the glider on takeoff, said he turned around and started walking back down the runway. When he turned around, he saw the glider had been released and was about 100-150 ft above the ground. The glider made a shallow right turn followed by an abrupt descending left turn. The glider impacted the runway in a steep nose-down attitude. Another witness said the glider pitched up “radically” on takeoff and stalled about 100-150 ft above the ground. The right wing dropped and then it rolled left and descended straight into the ground. All three witnesses stated that the pilot acted and sounded normal before the accident; however, once airborne, his actions were not consistent with his normal flying habits. The witnesses described him as an active glider pilot who was meticulous and very conservative with his flying. PILOT INFORMATION The 84-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for gliders and a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most-recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on August 17, 2017. At that time, he reported a total of 4,497 total flight hours. His third-class medical certificate expired for all classes in 2019. The pilot had applied for BasicMed and completed the required training course on September 22, 2022. AIRPLANE INFORMATION The Schleicher Alexander GMBH ASH 26 E glider was self-launching and of composite construction. It was equippedwith an engine and retractable propeller; however, the engine was not being used at the time of the accident and was stowed. WRECKAGE INFORMATION The glider came to rest inverted on the runway and all major components of the were accounted for at the accident site. The cockpit area sustained significant impact damage. Numerous breaks were observed in the flight controls; however, flight continuity was established for all major flight controls to the cockpit area. Both spoilers were extended and deflected forward. The flap and spoiler levers were also impacted damaged, and their pre-accident position could not be determined. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified that would have precluded normal operation of the glider. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was conducted on the pilot by the Hamilton County Coroner and Crime Laboratory, Blue Ash, Ohio. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma of head and neck, torso, and extremities. Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected Metformin and Pravastatin in the pilot’s blood and liver. Neither drug is considered impairing.