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May 30, 1987 · Bellanca 7KCAB · N88314

Fremont, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 30, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Fremont, CA
Aircraft
Bellanca 7KCAB
Tail Number
N88314
Operator
Skysailing
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX87LA224

WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO LND ON RWY 28, A GLIDER (SCHWEIZER SGS 2-32, N242DB) & A TOW PLANE (BELLANCA 7KCAB, N88314) COLLIDED IN FLT AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 200' AGL. THE TOW PLANE WAS RETURNING FM A LCL TOW MISSION & THE GLIDER WAS RETURNINGFM A LCL SIGHTSEEING FLT. AFTER COLLIDING, THE 2 ACFT LNDD SAFELY. NORMAL PROCEDURES AT THE ARPT WERE FOR TOW PLANES TO FLY A LARGE PATTERN WITH A LONG FINAL APCH & FOR GLIDERS TO FLY A SMALL PATTERN WITH A SHORT FINAL. ALL TRAFFIC LNDG ON RWY 28 WAS TO USE A RIGHT PATTERN. THE TOW PLT SAW THE GLIDER AS HE (THE TOW PLT) WAS TURNING ON A LONG FINAL APCH. AT THAT TIME, HE ESTIMATED THE GLIDER WAS AT 1100' AGL & 1/2 MI IN THE TOW PLANE'S 7:30 POSITION. AS THE TOW PLANE CONTD ON FINAL APCH AT 65 MPH, THE GLIDER CONVERGED FM ABV & BEHIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE OF THE GLIDER HIT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE TOW PLANE. THE GLIDER PLT DID NOT SEE THE TOW PLANE UNTIL THE MOMENT BFR IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIALDAMAGE TO THE TOW PLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER, BUT ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER.

Full Narrative

WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO LND ON RWY 28, A GLIDER (SCHWEIZER SGS 2-32, N242DB) & A TOW PLANE (BELLANCA 7KCAB, N88314) COLLIDED IN FLT AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 200' AGL. THE TOW PLANE WAS RETURNING FM A LCL TOW MISSION & THE GLIDER WAS RETURNINGFM A LCL SIGHTSEEING FLT. AFTER COLLIDING, THE 2 ACFT LNDD SAFELY. NORMAL PROCEDURES AT THE ARPT WERE FOR TOW PLANES TO FLY A LARGE PATTERN WITH A LONG FINAL APCH & FOR GLIDERS TO FLY A SMALL PATTERN WITH A SHORT FINAL. ALL TRAFFIC LNDG ON RWY 28 WAS TO USE A RIGHT PATTERN. THE TOW PLT SAW THE GLIDER AS HE (THE TOW PLT) WAS TURNING ON A LONG FINAL APCH. AT THAT TIME, HE ESTIMATED THE GLIDER WAS AT 1100' AGL & 1/2 MI IN THE TOW PLANE'S 7:30 POSITION. AS THE TOW PLANE CONTD ON FINAL APCH AT 65 MPH, THE GLIDER CONVERGED FM ABV & BEHIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE OF THE GLIDER HIT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE TOW PLANE. THE GLIDER PLT DID NOT SEE THE TOW PLANE UNTIL THE MOMENT BFR IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIALDAMAGE TO THE TOW PLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER, BUT ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:25 PDT
Nearest AirportFREMONT (1nm N)
Runway28
Runway Length2300 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 7KCAB
Tail NumberN88314
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSkysailing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-320-E2B · Reciprocating · 150 | None · NONE · Unknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class
Crew 2Age 52 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 12 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data