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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 20, 1989 · Piper PA-25-235 · N9489P

Warrenton, VA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 20, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Warrenton, VA
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Tail Number
N9489P
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO89LA035

The Piper was towing a glider, a Schweizer SGS 2-33. During climb about 200 ft AGL when, according to the towplane pilot, his aircraft abruptly pitched down. The towplane descended and the pilot was unable to recover in time to avoid the aircraft from striking the ground. According to the glider pilot, during the takeoff climb he encountered an updraft which caused the glider to accelerate and climb despite corrective action. The glider pilot stated that when he released the towrope he heard a pop sound and then the glider pitched up. The glider pilot stated the airspeed reached 105 mph and the glider pitched up to about 50 to 60 degrees. The glider reached about 650 AGL before it slowed to 50 mph after which he returned to land. Investigation revealed the glider pilot had 17 hours total time in gliders; however, until the day of the accident he had not flown gliders for about 2 years. This was his third flight of the day and the first one without an instructor aboard.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE GLIDER PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE DURING TAKEOFF AND THE DELAY IN RELEASING FROM THE TOWPLANE AFTER REALIZING THAT HE WAS CLIMBING WELL ABOVE THE TOWPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UPDRAFT ENCOUNTERED AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE GLIDER PILOT.

Full Narrative

THE PIPER WAS TOWING A GLIDER, A SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33. DURING CLIMB ABOUT 200 FT AGL WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE TOWPLANE PLT, HIS ACFT ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN. THE TOWPLANE DESCENDED AND THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER IN TIME TO AVOID THE ACFT FROM STRIKING THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE GLIDER PLT, DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB HE ENCOUNTERED AN UPDRAFT WHICH CAUSED THE GLIDER TO ACCELERATE AND CLIMB DESPITE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE GLIDER PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE RELEASED THE TOWROPE HE HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN THE GLIDER PITCHED UP. THE GLIDER PILOT STATED THE AIRSPEED REACHED 105 MPH AND THE GLIDER PITCHED UP TO ABOUT 50 TO 60 DEGREES. THE GLIDER REACHED ABOUT 650 AGL BEFORE IT SLOWED TO 50 MPH AFTER WHICH HE RETURNED TO LAND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE GLIDER PILOT HAD 17 HRS TOTAL TIME IN GLIDERS; HOWEVER, UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT HE HAD NOT FLOWN GLIDERS FOR ABOUT 2 YRS. THIS WAS HIS THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND THE FIRST ONE WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR ABOARD.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:39 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-25-235
Tail NumberN9489P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-B2B5 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 28 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data