Fatal Towplane Accident 5-9-20

Again, condolences to all involved. I would sure like to know some of the details. How old and how experienced was the glider pilot? How long was the tow rope and was it within the regulations regarding breaking strength? Was the tow release on the floor of the tow plane? How high were they when the glider kited?

Boggs

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 12:45:39 PM UTC-5, Waveguru wrote:
Again, condolences to all involved. I would sure like to know some of the details. How old and how experienced was the glider pilot? How long was the tow rope and was it within the regulations regarding breaking strength? Was the tow release on the floor of the tow plane? How high were they when the glider kited?

Boggs

With Sadness and respect, the video shows the towplane on the runway, and the paved surface seems to have threshold markings. If this is so, the towplane came to rest on the departure end and would seem to indicate a very low and early event in the launch.
Scott.

Both the tow pilot and the glider pilot where very experienced. The glider pilot is also an instructor. The scout had a retractable tow rope with a guillotine release. It happened so quickly I doubt the tow pilot had any time to react and recover. This is just my opinion not official statement of course. I wasn’t at Byron that day. We will need to wait for at least the preliminary NTSB reports but we will make sure to cooperate with the NTSB investigator.
This is a tragic loss and we at NCSA are still in shock. Yet this is unfortunately not uncommon. Please keep in mind that these sorts of accidents have additional victim, the glider pilot who have to live with it. We are all human and prone to distraction no matter how experienced and trained we are.. No one knowingly or purposely kite their glider.

Ramy

At 18:05 12 May 2020, Ramy wrote:

This is a tragic loss and we at NCSA are still in shock. Yet this is
unfortunately not uncommon. Please keep in mind that these sorts of
accidents have additional victim, the glider pilot who have to live with
it. We are all human and prone to distraction no matter how
experienced and trained we are. No one knowingly or purposely kite
their glider.

Ramy


Well said that man

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 2:05:55 PM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:
Both the tow pilot and the glider pilot where very experienced. The glider pilot is also an instructor. The scout had a retractable tow rope with a guillotine release. It happened so quickly I doubt the tow pilot had any time to react and recover. This is just my opinion not official statement of course. I wasn’t at Byron that day. We will need to wait for at least the preliminary NTSB reports but we will make sure to cooperate with the NTSB investigator.
This is a tragic loss and we at NCSA are still in shock. Yet this is unfortunately not uncommon. Please keep in mind that these sorts of accidents have additional victim, the glider pilot who have to live with it. We are all human and prone to distraction no matter how experienced and trained we are. No one knowingly or purposely kite their glider.

Ramy

Thanks for the information, your willingness to speak on the incident speaks volumes. Hopefully all those with professional speculation will quell their thoughts and speculations out of respect.

Thank you very much for this information Ramy. One of the hardest things is not knowing what took place. It could happen to any of us if we let our guard down. It only takes a second.

Boggs

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 11:05:55 AM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
Both the tow pilot and the glider pilot where very experienced. The glider pilot is also an instructor. The scout had a retractable tow rope with a guillotine release. It happened so quickly I doubt the tow pilot had any time to react and recover. This is just my opinion not official statement of course. I wasn’t at Byron that day. We will need to wait for at least the preliminary NTSB reports but we will make sure to cooperate with the NTSB investigator.
This is a tragic loss and we at NCSA are still in shock. Yet this is unfortunately not uncommon. Please keep in mind that these sorts of accidents have additional victim, the glider pilot who have to live with it. We are all human and prone to distraction no matter how experienced and trained we are. No one knowingly or purposely kite their glider.

Ramy

Did the glider have a flight data logger? If so, has the flight log been examined?

Tom

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 11:05:55 AM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
Both the tow pilot and the glider pilot where very experienced. The glider pilot is also an instructor. The scout had a retractable tow rope with a guillotine release. It happened so quickly I doubt the tow pilot had any time to react and recover. This is just my opinion not official statement of course. I wasn’t at Byron that day. We will need to wait for at least the preliminary NTSB reports but we will make sure to cooperate with the NTSB investigator.
This is a tragic loss and we at NCSA are still in shock. Yet this is unfortunately not uncommon. Please keep in mind that these sorts of accidents have additional victim, the glider pilot who have to live with it. We are all human and prone to distraction no matter how experienced and trained we are. No one knowingly or purposely kite their glider.

Ramy

Ramy, what model glider was involved? I assume side opening canopy.

The glider was a 1-26.

Ramy

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 8:23:35 PM UTC-7, Ramy wrote:
The glider was a 1-26.

Ramy

Too bad. A 1-26 flies fine without a canopy. I have purposefully opened the canopy of a 2-33, unbuckled and stood up to untangle the yaw string, and though flying slower than on tow it wasn't terribly dramatic. Perhaps if training in 2-33s opening the canopy to experience it should be part of the course. It is the surprise and fear of the unknown which certainly contributes to the loss of concentration.

An artificial horizon and electric guillotine is a complex solution. Is the tow rope at a sufficient angle in these situations to simply position a sharp knife above the rope such that it cuts itself if the angle is too high? Surely that has been thought of and rejected for good reasons?