Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau Speed Astir II accident near Centre Hall, PA
On July 1, 2007, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau Speed Astir II (glider) was involved in an accident near Centre Hall, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 1, 2007
- Place
- Centre Hall, PA
- Aircraft
- Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau Speed Astir II · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.812°N, 77.657°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070718X00954
NTSB summary
On July 1, 2007, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau Speed Astir II glider, N176SS, was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway while under tow for takeoff from Centre Airpark (N16), Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, destined for Mifflin County Airport (RVL), Reedsville, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot of the tow airplane, the purpose of the accident flight was to tow the glider aloft so that the glider pilot could return to RVL. The tow pilot conducted a preflight briefing with the glider pilot on tow procedures prior to the takeoff, and the glider was connected to the tow airplane without any difficulties. After establishing radio contact, the glider pilot and the tow pilot agreed to start the takeoff from runway 6. The tow pilot watched the glider in his mirror, and initially it appeared to be in a wings level attitude and directly behind the tow airplane, during the takeoff roll. After raising the tow airplane's tailwheel off the ground, the tow pilot felt a slight yaw, but did not feel this was unusual given the wind conditions. He then felt a distinct loss of drag, which he felt was consistent with a disconnect or breakage of the tow rope. The airplane's main wheels remained on the ground during these events. As he could no longer see the glider in the mirror with the tailwheel raised, he elected to continue the takeo
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control of the glider for undetermined reasons.
More accidents in PA
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Browse: Pennsylvania
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
