Dg Flugzeugbau DG 1000S N7760A

Summary

On 13 October 2011 at about 22:58 local time, a Dg Flugzeugbau DG 1000S registered N7760A, operated by Northwest Eagle Soaring LLC, was involved in an accident near Cle Elum, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 October 2011 at 22:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Cle Elum, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Cle Elum Municipal Airport (S93)

Coordinates

47.1942, -120.8833

Aircraft

Dg Flugzeugbau DG 1000S

Registration

N7760A

Category

Glider

Operator

Northwest Eagle Soaring LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cle Elum → Cle Elum

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12FA010

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and control after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the glider became airborne within the first one-third of the runway during an automobile ground launch. The glider then pitched to a steep nose-high attitude and ascended through about 100 to 125 feet when the rope broke. The glider continued to ascend and momentarily leveled off near the end of the runway. The glider then entered a steep right bank angle turn and descended, turning about 300 degrees from its initial departure heading before it impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed no evidence of a malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The glider’s right turn and associated steep bank angle likely resulted in a significant loss of airspeed and subsequent aerodynamic stall at a low altitude, with insufficient altitude for the pilot to recover. It is also likely that the tow rope reached its maximum tensile load and broke as a result of the rapid pitch-up maneuver after takeoff. The reason for the rapid pitch up maneuver could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.