- Date
- May 26, 1982, 12:03 local (16:03 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, CT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N77BZSchleicher ASW-15
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820526019239A
- Case key
- 72266
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The pilot stated that he thought he heard the rudder pedals click into their detented/locked position when they were adjusted before takeoff. However, while being towed for takeoff, the rudder pedals slipped forward about 1 to 2 inches. The pilot reached down with his left hand to pull the rudder adjust knob and reposition the rudder pedals. However, he inadvertently pulled the tow release knob which was located about 3 inches to the left of the rudder adjust knob. The tow rope was released when he about 200 ft from the departure end of the runway at about 15 ft AGL and 55 knots. Since there were trees around the end of the runway, he pulled up and turned right in an attempt to land in a clear area on another part of the airport. However, he was unable to reach the clearing and crashed in the trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N77BZ
- Reported as
- Schleicher ASW-15
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 15130
- Airframe hours
- 306
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jonathan T. Mead
- Registered owner
- Jonathan T. Mead
- Departed
- N41 · Plymouth, CT
- Destination
- N41 · Plymouth, CT
- Airport
- N41 · Waterbury, runway 35, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 429 total · 147 in this make and model · 415 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 149 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.