Pzl-Bielsko SZD 55-1 accident near Channahon, IL
On August 6, 2016, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD 55-1 (glider) was involved in an accident near Channahon, IL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 6, 2016
- Place
- Channahon, IL
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Bielsko SZD 55-1 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.431°N, 88.249°W
- NTSB ID
- 20160807X20843
Official records · CEN16FA308
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 6, 2016, about 1533 central daylight time, an experimental PZL Bielsko SZD 55-1 glider, N551DR, collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Chicago Glider Club Gliderport (IL59), Channahon, Illinois. The pilot was fatally injured, and the glider was substantially damaged. The glider was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident. The pilot of the tow airplane reported that he initiated the takeoff from runway 27, a 2,000-ft-long grass runway, and that the takeoff ground run was normal. The tow airplane lifted-off about halfway down the runway and began climbing. He stated that, when the tow airplane was about 20 ft above ground level (agl), he began to feel a "heavy increasing drag from the glider and shortly thereafter, felt the glider release from the tow." The tow airplane subsequently landed uneventfully with the towline still attached to its tail clasp mechanism. Three witnesses reported that, during the takeoff roll, the glider's right wing dropped and contacted the ground after the wing-runner let go of the right wing. The wings leveled momentarily, and then the left wing contacted the ground while the glider was veering slightly to the left. The witnesses stated that the glider pilot then leveled the wings briefly before the glider pitched-up about 30° to 40°. The tow airplane was still on its takeoff ground
Probable cause
The glider pilot's failure to maintain adequate pitch control while being towed and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed control after releasing from the towline, which resulted in the glider exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude.
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Browse: Illinois
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
