Accident Champion 7GCAA N55JJ, Sunday 8 April 1990

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Date:	Sunday 8 April 1990
Time:	14:50 LT
Type:	Champion 7GCAA
Owner/operator:	Illini Glider Club, Inc.
Registration:	N55JJ
MSN:	311-75
Year of manufacture:	1974
Engine model:	Lycoming O-320-A2D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lodge, IL - United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TOWING A GLIDER. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN IN A STRONG CROSSWIND, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SOFT PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER. THE GLIDER PILOT RELEASED THE TOW. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. TAKEOFF WAS TO THE WEST. TWENTY-TWO MILES TO THE NORTHEAST, THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 220 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS.

Probable Cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. THE CROSSWIND AND THE SOFT/UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Accident investigation: