# NTSB LAX95LA242: Miller, Terry W. Tern, N7322, Adelanto, CA, July 1, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1995, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Adelanto, CA
- Coordinates: 34.659904, -117.509437 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6599&lon=-117.5094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29144/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA242

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE AERO TOW OPERATION, THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING RAISED.  THE PILOT APPLIED OPPOSITE AILERON, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS.  THE GLIDER RIGHT WING DRAGGED THE DIRT RUNWAY AND THEN THE GLIDER GOUND LOOPED.  THE AERO TOW PILOT RELEASED THE GLIDER WHEN IT DRAGGED THE RIGHT WING.  INITIALLY, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED ON A NORTHWESTERLY RUNWAY AND THAT THE WINDS WERE CALM.  IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT HE SAID HE DEPARTED AN EASTERLY RUNWAY AND THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHEAST BETWEEN 0 AND 15 KNOTS.

## Factual narrative

On July 1, 1995, at 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Showalter Tern Sailplane glider, N7322, dragged the right wing tip during an aero tow departure on runway 07 at Krey Field, Adelanto, California.  The pilot was beginning a local visual flight rules personal flight.  The glider, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported this accident to the National Transportation Safety Board on July 7, 1995.  He said that during the aero tow, the glider right wing tip dragged the runway and then "spun around."  The right wing folded and the tail section separated.  He also said the airplane did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures, and that the surface winds were calm.

The pilot said in the accident report that the glider departed runway 07.  When the pilot initially reported this accident to the Safety Board on July 7, 1995, he said the airplane departed runway 29.  He also indicated in the report that the surface winds were from the southeast between 0 and 15 knots.

In the accident report, the pilot said that during the aero tow the left wing raised.  He applied left aileron, but there was insufficient aileron control and the right wing continued downward until it struck the ground.  The aero tow airplane pilot released the glider when the glider right wing struck the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7322](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7322-2004-03-29), registration cancelled 2004-03-29, S/N DS/WTM-7-69, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Miller, Terry W. TERN
- Registry model: [Showalter TERN SAILPLANE](https://openairdocs.org/model/showalter-tern-sailplane) (registry code 0560336) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7-69
- Airframe hours: 300
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sean R. Eckstein
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1995, 31 hours before
- Airport: Krey Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; seat: front; flight hours: 143 total, 16 in this make and model, 143 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F

## 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 19950701020319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950701020319A), Jul 1, 1995: Amtr TERN2, Adelanto, CA, Substantial damage. Dragged wing on aero tow. Tow pilot released glider. Glider ground looped right wing folded. Tail separated.

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.