ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 69943
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| Date: | Thursday 2 July 1992 |
| Time: | 19:30 LT |
| Type: |  Grob G103 Twin Astir |
| Owner/operator: | Douglass Soaring Club |
| Registration: | N173SS |
| MSN: | 3286 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1215 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming%20O-360 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Olancha, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| Bishop, CA (KBIH) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE EN ROUTE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT HE BEGAN LOOSING LIFT AND ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN ABANDONED AIRSTRIP. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT TELEPHONED COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES AND ARRANGED TO HAVE A TOW PLANE FLY DOWN TO GET HIM AIRBORNE AGAIN. THE TOW PLANE ARRIVED AND BOTH PILOTS SURVEYED THE 2,400 FOOT LONG DIRT AIRSTRIP, DECIDING THAT IT WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE TOW OPERATION. DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF, THE TOW PLANE PILOT FELT THAT THE ACCELERATION DOWN THE RUNWAY WAS INSUFFICIENT TO TAKEOFF AND HE RELEASED THE GLIDER. UNKNOWN TO THE TOW PLANE PILOT, THE GLIDER WAS ALREADY AIRBORNE OFF THE RUNWAY WHEN HE RELEASED THE TOW CABLE. THE GLIDER HAD INSUFFICIENT REMAINING RUNWAY TO LAND AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT A RETURN TO RUNWAY MANEUVER FROM LOW ALTITUDE. ONE WING TIP COLLIDED WITH A SMALL TREE DURING THE TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY.
Probable Cause: 1) THE TOW PILOT'S INTENTIONAL PREMATURE RELEASE OF THE GLIDER, WHICH HAD BECOME AIRBORNE, WHEN THE TOW PLANE FAILED TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING ITS TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, AND, 2) THE GLIDER HAVING INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF RELEASE TO NEGOTIATE A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO RUNWAY MANEUVER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT NATURE OF THE DIRT RUNWAY.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX92LA275
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 27 December 1998 | N173SS | Peak Soaring | 0 | Canon City, CO | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 07-Nov-2009 11:18 | DColclasure | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 10-Apr-2024 19:49 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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