Aero Tek Inc. ZUNI accident near Aguila, AZ
On May 3, 2014, an Aero Tek Inc. ZUNI (glider) was involved in an accident near Aguila, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 3, 2014
- Place
- Aguila, AZ
- Aircraft
- Aero Tek Inc. ZUNI · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.923°N, 113.181°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140504X34426
Official records · WPR14FA181
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On May 3, 2014, about 1210, mountain standard time, an experimental exhibition, racing, Aero Tex Inc., Zuni, N22DA, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during initial climb out, while being towed from the Sampley's Airport (28AZ) Aguila, Arizona. The glider was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the glider, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. The tow pilot reported that the takeoff was normal and shortly after beginning the climb, he noticed a lightening of the control forces. Subsequently, the pilot determined that the glider had separated from the tow line about 100 feet, above ground level. The pilot of the tow plane circled the airport, and located the glider's wreckage about 300 feet to the left of the runway and about 180 degrees off the runway heading. He then proceeded to land the tow plane uneventfully. The glider was recovered to a secure storage facility for further examination. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 61, held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane multi-engine land, airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, glider, and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot was issued a third-class airman medical certificate on August 21, 2012, with the limitation stated to must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. The pilot reported on his most recent medical
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control of the glider after the tow cable separated prematurely due to an incomplete engagement of the cable in the control tow release system due to a missing spring.
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Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
