On Saturday, May 3, 2014 9:27:10 PM UTC-7, Waveguru wrote:
Premature termination of the tow at 100ft. Did not complete the turn back to the runway.


It is so disheartening to me..... that the industry hasn't picked up
my technique of teaching about requiring students to be speaking aloud during the
departure climb --

"I can land here (xxxxxx) ,
I can land there (xxxxxx ) ,
I can turn for a downwind landing (meaning sufficient altitude and within-limits tailwind component),
I can make an abbreviated pattern into wind,
I can make a full pattern."

Meaning -
they can land straight ahead somewhere on the remaining airport.
they can land somewhere ahead or aside/outside the premises in the 'best available' place,
they know they have enough to land downwind ( if appropriate - sometimes you would never choose DW),
they can make a teensy, tight short pattern onto the upwind end of the airfield.
they can make a pretty leisurely, semi-normal landing into wind on the airfield.


The simplistic rote teaching of requiring students to say aloud --

200 feet --

That doesn't get them 'ahead of the glider' and actively looking, thinking,
assessing where they can go during each moment of the departure climb.
IF pilots were taught to think that way,
I believe,
we would eliminate these PTTT turn/stall accidents almost entirely.

Folks might land in less than wonderful places, but it would
be a landing, not an example of gravity in control. Arriving in a
comparatively level and comparatively slow descent rate is
hugely more survivable than what we see in these types of
accidents.

If any CFIGs would like to discuss their airfield, their trainings ships and tugs, and their departure options, I would be happy to assist them in understanding and incorporating this training protocol.

With great regret for the loss of another pilot,

Cindy Brickner

Caracole Soaring
(760) 373-1019 cell phone