Schweizer SGS 1-34 N7657

Summary

On 3 July 1982 at about 02:55 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 registered N7657, operated by Honolulu Soaring Club, was involved in an accident near Dillingham, Hawaii, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

3 July 1982 at 02:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Dillingham, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Dillingham

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-34

Registration

N7657

Category

Glider

Operator

Honolulu Soaring Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dillingham → Dillingham

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX82FJA05

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE GLIDER WAS ABOUT 5 FEET ABOVE THE RWY DURING A TOW TAKEOFF WITH THE L-19 TOW PLANE ABOUT READY TO LEAVE THE GROUND WHEN THE GLIDER PLT SWITCHED HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK & APPARENTLY HIT THE COCKPIT CANOPY LATCH CAUSING THE CANOPY TO OPEN VIOLENTLY. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE CANOPY. SINCE HE WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT, HE PULLED THE TOW RELEASE AT ABOUT 10 FEET AGL. THE GLIDER PITCHED VIOLENTLY DOWNWARD TO THE RWY HITTING HARD ON THE NOSE & THEN HARD ON THE TAIL. THE PLT SAID THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS FROZE DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE IN THE TAIL & THE GLIDER BOUNCED ANOTHER 3 OR 4 TIMES OUT OF CONTROL UNITL IT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.