Slingsby SWALLOW TYPE T.45 N7476

Summary

On 2 September 2007 at about 20:45 local time, a Slingsby SWALLOW TYPE T.45 registered N7476, operated by Sonja Flesberg, was involved in an accident near Hutchinson, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 2007 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hutchinson, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Sunflower Aerodrome Gliderport (SN76)

Coordinates

37.9225, -97.9036

Aircraft

Slingsby SWALLOW TYPE T.45

Registration

N7476

Category

Glider

Operator

Sonja Flesberg

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Glider Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hutchinson → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN07LA152

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a low altitude release resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing factors were the pilot's decision to turn back to the airport at low altitude and the wind gust.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider achieved flight as normal prior to rotation by the tow plane. As the glider continued along the runway there seemed to be some sort of external downward force like a wind gust. The glider wheel touched the runway and the glider bounced into the air, gaining altitude rapidly. The pilot released the glider tow line and continued straight. The pilot stated that the tow plane was not in sight and there was an impression that the tow plane may have taken off. The pilot banked the glider to the right to return to the airport. During the turn the right wing stalled and the glider lost altitude rapidly. The glider impacted terrain to the west of the runway on airport property. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by making a small right turn and landing straight ahead on the remaining runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.