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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 8, 1994 · Schweizer 2-33A · N5790S

Heber City, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 8, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Heber City, UT
Aircraft
Schweizer 2-33A
Tail Number
N5790S
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA94LA078

WHILE BEING TOWED DURING A TAKEOFF ROLL, THE DUAL GLIDER STUDENT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. HIS REMEDIAL ACTIONS WERE INADEQUATE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, AND HE DID NOT INITIATE AN ABORT UNTIL AFTER THE GLIDER STRUCK A TAXIWAY MARKER.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DELAYED/INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND UNFAVORABLE/VARIABLE, GUSTY WINDS DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.

Full Narrative

On March 8, 1994, approximately 1500 mountain standard time (MST), a Schweizer 2-33A glider, N5790S, collided with taxiway markers during the takeoff roll at Heber Valley Airport, Heber City, Utah. The certified flight instructor and his dual student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The dual student, who was attempting a takeoff for a local instructional flight, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was making the takeoff with the assistance of a wing-runner. After the flight controls became effective, the wing-runner let go of the wing. Soon thereafter, the glider veered left, and the left wing dipped sharply. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft, but his remedial action was not sufficient to keep the aircraft from departing the side of the runway and striking a runway marker. The instructor pilot aborted the takeoff by releasing the tow line after the impact with the marker. In an interview with investigators, the instructor pilot said that he believed a variable crosswind switched to a quartering tailwind during the takeoff roll, resulting in a loss of flight control effectiveness.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 MST
Nearest AirportHeber Valley Airport (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length6900 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchweizer 2-33A
Tail NumberN5790S
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 21 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindGusting 15 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data