Ketonen SCHREDER N161HP

Summary

On 5 September 2009 at about 17:30 local time, a Ketonen SCHREDER registered N161HP, operated by Cadillac Soaring LLC, was involved in an accident near Ionia, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 September 2009 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ionia, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Ionia County Airport (Y70)

Coordinates

42.9378, -85.0606

Aircraft

Ketonen SCHREDER

Registration

N161HP

Category

Glider

Operator

Cadillac Soaring LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ionia → Ionia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA577

Nobody was injured.

The pilot failed to maintain control of the glider during the aero-tow launch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the amateur-built glider was a few feet higher than it should be in relation to the tow airplane after liftoff, so he attempted to lower the glider. He expected the ground effect to slow his descent rate, but the glider continued to descend. He put in aft stick but the wheel contacted the turf at the same time. The glider then bounced and he put in forward stick pressure. The glider hit the runway hard and the pilot released the tow line. The inspection of the aircraft revealed that the glider’s fuselage had separated from the forward section of the glider during the hard landing resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the aircraft prior to the occurrence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.