# NTSB NYC96LA140: Schweizer SGS 1-26E, N603MX, Marston Mills, MA, July 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1996, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Marston Mills, MA - Location: 41.6853° N, 70.4022° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CAPE COD (2B1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6853&lon=-70.4022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39208 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39208/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA140 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain control of the glider while being towed during takeoff, which resulted in a pitch oscillation, failure of the tow cable, loss of airspeed, an inadvertent stall/spin, and an uncontrolled collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - glider launch/tow equipment - overload - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis Several witnesses observed the glider as it was being towed during takeoff. They reported that after becoming airborne, it pitched up, down, and up again, in excess of 45 degrees, then the tow rope broke. The glider then entered a right turn and rolled into a 1-1/2 turn spin to the right. Subsequenlty, the glider impacted in a grassy area next to parked airplanes on the airport. The pilot was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. No evidence of a preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found, and flight control continuity was confirmed. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1995, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 1-26E glider, N603MX, struck the ground after takeoff from the Marston Mills Airport, Marston Mills, Massachusetts. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the glider was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and had departed less than one minute before. The FAA reported that the accident flight was the second glider flight that day for the pilot, who had flown about 20 minutes on an earlier flight. Several witnesses observed the glider which was under tow, and then pitched up, down, and then up in excess of 45 degrees, at which time the tow rope broke. The glider then entered a right turn, and then entered a right spin of about 1 1/2 turns prior to impacting the ground, next to parked airplanes. The pilot was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on the following day. The pilot did not possess a FAA Airman Medical Certificate, nor was he required to possess one. The glider was examined by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector who reported, "...The tail flight control surfaces have continuity between the flight control attachments and the linkage/bellcrank, under the pilot's floor boards...." According to the Medical Examiner's Office, State of Massachusetts, a post-mortem examination of pilot did not disclose evidence of an incapacitating medical condition. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N603MX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N603MX-2015-04-27), registration cancelled 2015-04-27, S/N 603, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 1-26E - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (registry code 8050124) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 603 - Airframe hours: 864 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Buzzard Bay Buzzards - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1996, 1 hours before - Departed: 2B1 - Airport: 2B1, Marston Mills, runway 27, 2,700 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: center; flight hours: 500 total, 41 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 16 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HYA, 8 nm away ## 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 19960705016429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960705016429A), Jul 5, 1996: Scwzer SGS126E, Marston Mills, MA, Destroyed. Tow rope broke on takeoff, glider stalled, spun in, struck ground. (-23) at approximately 1400EDT, 07/05/96, I received a telephone call from my supervisor,… 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.