- Date
- August 30, 1989, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hemet, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19890830065859A19890830032899I
- Case key
- 26488
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Inadequate crew coordination between the tow pilot and glider pilot, failure of the glider pilot to obtain proper assistance, and the tow pilot's misunderstanding of the glider pilot's intentions.
Inadequate crew coordination between the tow pilot and glider pilot, failure of the glider pilot to obtain proper assistance, and the tow pilot's misunderstanding of the glider pilot's intentions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
When the glider plt & tow plt were ready to launch, the rwy assistant was helping with the launch of another glider. The glider plt of N65843 elected to connect the tow line to his own glider. The tow plane was taxied into psn & the glider plt connected the line. The tow plt watched as the glider plt got into the cockpit (aft seat) with a psgr in the front seat. The glider plt then decided to get out again to adjust his seat cushion. However, as he was getting out, the tow plt saw movement of the rudder which he assumed was the signal for launch. The tow plt looked away & bgn a takeoff with only the psgr in the glider. Subsequently, the clider was released as it went out of control, stalled & crashed.
When the glider plt & tow plt were ready to launch, the rwy assistant was helping with the launch of another glider. The glider plt of N65843 elected to connect the tow line to his own glider. The tow plane was taxied into psn & the glider plt connected the line. The tow plt watched as the glider plt got into the cockpit (aft seat) with a psgr in the front seat. The glider plt then decided to get out again to adjust his seat cushion. However, as he was getting out, the tow plt saw movement of the rudder which he assumed was the signal for launch. The tow plt looked away & bgn a takeoff with only the psgr in the glider. Subsequently, the glider was released as it went out of control, stalled & crashed.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N65843
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 333
- Airframe hours
- 2,599
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Academic Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 22, 1989 · 12 hours before
- Airport
- HMT · Hemet-Ryan, runway 22, 2,045 × 20 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N9340X
- Reported as
- Cessna 182E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18253740
- Airframe hours
- 5,449
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hemet Valley Flying Service Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 11, 1989 · 92 hours before
- Airport
- HMT · Hemet-Ryan, runway 22, 2,045 × 20 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N65843
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 35 total · 33 in this make and model · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N9340X
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,726 total · 1,248 in this make and model · 8,639 as pilot in command · 272 in the last 90 days · 79 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.