Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus accident near Hilltown, PA
On August 10, 2002, a Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus (glider) was involved in an accident near Hilltown, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 10, 2002
- Place
- Hilltown, PA
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.329°N, 75.250°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020820X01428
NTSB summary
History Of Flight On August 10, 2002, about 1350 eastern daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus, N47SS, was destroyed, when it collided with terrain during takeoff at the Philadelphia Gliderport (0PA0), Hilltown, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a witness, the pilot was in good spirits when he assembled the glider and prepared it for flight. The pilot was observed to perform a control check, which consisted of him moving the control stick in the cockpit and observing movement of the stabilator and ailerons. The witness reported that he observed movement of the control surfaces, but was not in a position to observe the control stick movements. No further flight control checks were observed. In preparation for takeoff from runway 25, the glider was attached to a 200-foot tow line and positioned behind the tow plane, a Cessna 305. A wing walker reported that he held the wings in a level position as the takeoff was initiated. As the glider gained speed, and the wing walker could no longer keep up with it, he released the wing, and turned his back to the takeoff, walking back to the starting point. A third witness reported seeing the glider still on the ground after the tow plane had become airborne. A fourth witness reported: "...The glider became airborne and began to rise above the tow plane. It appeared that after the glider continued to rise, the glider pilot took
Probable cause
The pilot's improper pre-flight, and failure to follow procedures in the flight manual to determine that the stabilator was properly connected prior to flight, and which resulted in a loss of control while under tow, and uncontrolled impact with the ground.
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Browse: Pennsylvania · Schempp-Hirth aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
