COTTAGE GROVE, OR, USA
N8000Z
KNA,KEN,DAC,WEL TERN SAILPLANE
DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL THE TERN SAILPLANE PITCHED NOSE UP AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW AIRCRAFT BUT THE SAILPLANE HAD BEGUN TO SPIN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE SAILPLANE WAS FOUND TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ONLY A CG TOW ATTACH POINT WHICH IS USED FOR VEHICLE TOW LAUNCHES AND IS LOCATED AFT OF THE NOSE UNDER THE COCKPIT. THE SAILPLANE DID NOT POSSESS AN AERO TOW ATTACH POINT MOUNTED ON THE NOSE AND USED FOR AIRCRAFT LAUNCHES. THE PILOT REPORTED 557 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE BUT ONLY 15 HOURS WERE IN GLIDERS WITH NO TIME LOGGED IN THE MAKE/MODEL OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE SAILPLANE. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER TOW EQUIPMENT AND LACK OF TOTAL GLIDER EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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