Briegleb BG-12A accident near Superior, WI
On August 2, 1997, a Briegleb BG-12A (glider) was involved in an accident near Superior, WI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 2, 1997
- Place
- Superior, WI
- Aircraft
- Briegleb BG-12A · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.670°N, 92.079°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08572
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 2, 1997, at 1330 central daylight time (cdt), a Briegleb BG-12A glider, N5516V, operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight breakup near Superior, Wisconsin. The local personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed the Richard I. Bong Airport, Superior, Wisconsin at approximately 1300 cdt. Another pilot was towing the glider. In a statement to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot of the tow aircraft said, "Was asked to give a tow and discussed speed. [The pilot] said his check list showed tow speed 80-85. Normally tow at 65. Took off runway 31, going to 2,500', south of the taconite pile, 2,000'...2,200', circling. Suddenly felt straight pull, yaw left, tail up, looking straight at ground - a really strong jerk. After a couple of seconds felt hard jerk down. Pulled tow release. Started left turn, looking for glider, couldn't see him, no response on radio. Returned to field. Police waiting. Took off again with [a police officer] to search...Never had to pull release before. Tow was real smooth until first jerk..." According to a witness, "On August 2nd, I was parked on a road at [work]. I was facing east. I observed what I thought was a metal object flip-flopping in the sky. It was long and thin. Although I was a long ways away, I could tell it was big. It fell mostly vertically, oscillating back and forth. It fell slowly
Probable cause
the separation of the wing from the glider for undetermined reasons.
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Browse: Wisconsin
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
