# NTSB FTW79FQG52: Tern II, N47775, Littlefield, TX, August 4, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 4, 1979
- Place: Littlefield, TX · LITTLEFIELD, TX
- Location: 33.9192° N, 102.3348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Littlefield, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9192&lon=-102.3348&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134749
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FQG52
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FQG52

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2213   79/8/4    LITTLEFIELD,TX      TERN II             CR-  0  1  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 15, 17 TOTAL
        TIME - 1515                    N47775              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, 1 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LITTLEFIELD MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LITTLEFIELD,TX              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- WITNESS RPRT-GLDR OSCILLATED AFT TKOF,RELEASED FROM TOW ACFT,WING TIP HIT GND DRG TURN TWD ARPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47775](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47775-1980-08-04), registration cancelled 1980-08-04, S/N DSS/WTM-23-73, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TERN II
- Registry model: [Day-Schlimmer-Shaw MILLER-TERN](https://openairdocs.org/model/day-schlimmer-shaw-miller-tern) (registry code 0562802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Littlefield Muni

## 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 19790804022479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790804022479A), Aug 4, 1979: Amtr TERN2, Littlefield, TX, Destroyed. Student glider pilot got out of position on tow. Released from tow plane. Dragged wing tip. Cartwheeled.

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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