Pilot Debrief

Biuro Projektowe B Bogumil Ber SZD-56-2 near Sparks, NV — 2019-07-14

Final reportGAA19CA447
Sign in to save
Date
2019-07-14
Location
Sparks, NV, USA
Airport
NV23
Aircraft
Biuro Projektowe B Bogumil Ber SZD-56-2
Registration
N821W
Category
Glider
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner, which resulted in glider settling into sage brush.

NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that, during an aerotow takeoff, the glider weather vaned off the paved surface of the runway about 200 ft into the takeoff roll. The pilot stated that the glider's tailwheel was too small to roll on the unpaved surface and that the glider's acceleration in the dirt "was not as fast as it needed to be." The tow plane became airborne before the glider, and shortly after the glider became airborne at low airspeed, about 10 to 15 ft above ground level, the glider settled into sage brush and contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The glider pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented by releasing from the tow plane "before leaving the ground."

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff due to low airspeed and runway conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

Related mishaps