# NTSB NYC97LA084: Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS-S, N9775, Wadsworth, OH, September 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1996, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Wadsworth, OH - Coordinates: 41.020763, -81.730972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0208&lon=-81.7310&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent activation of the speed brakes while being towed for takeoff. Subsequently, the glider pilot lost sight of the tow airplane due to excessive altitude, released the tow rope, and performed an off airport landing during which the glider collided with a tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - speed brakes - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis This was second flight of the day for the pilot/owner of the glider. The first flight lasted about 5 minutes, because the pilot stated that he could not gain any altitude, and he landed back at the airport. During the second takeoff, the pilot noticed the speed brakes were deployed. When he retracted the speed brakes, the glider 'popped up' higher than the tow plane, and the pilot released the tow rope. The pilot believed that he was too low to make it back to the airport, and went under telephone wires onto a road. The glider then ground-looped, and the left wing trailing edge struck a tree and the glider's tail broke midway down the tail cone. The pilot stated that there was the possibility that he may have bumped the speed brake handle. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1996, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Cirrus-S, N9775, a glider, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees after takeoff at the Wadsworth Municipal Airport, Wadsworth, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a State Police report, taken on September 25, 1996, the pilot stated that during the accident flight, while being towed for takeoff, he noticed the speed brakes had deployed. He further stated: "...When I closed the drag brakes, my altitude popped up quickly, so I was higher than the tow plane, maybe 50' [feet] high. I released the tow rope and shoved the stick forward to maintain flying speed, but was too low to get back to [the] field. I went down on a road under telephone wires. The glider ground-looped, and the left wing trailing edge hit a tree and the tail broke midway down the tail cone..." In a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report, he stated that the accident was reported to the FAA by the pilot, on April 24, 1997. The FAA Inspector's report stated that the pilot/owner of the glider said that the accident flight was his second flight of the day. During his first flight, which lasted about 5 minutes, he could not gain any altitude and landed back at the Wadsworth Municipal Airport. The Inspector's report also stated that the pilot said that he had not experienced speed brake deployment in the accident glider, but had in other gliders. The pilot also said that there was the possibility that he may have inadvertently bumped the speed brake handle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9775](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9775), registered now, S/N 106, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth CIRRUS-S - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-standard-cirrus) (registry code 38019VE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 106 - Airframe hours: 1247 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William L. Hinks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 1996, 12 hours before - Departed: 3G3 - Airport: 3G3, Wadsworth Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 520 total, 31 in this make and model, 424 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19960925044639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960925044639A), Sep 25, 1996: Sphrth CIRRUS, Wadsworth, OH, Substantial damage. On glider tow spoilers popped open. Closed. Climb higher than tow craft. Released low. Went under wires. Groundloop (-23) the pilot/owner notified this office… 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.