Glaser-Dirks-Flugzeubau DG-100G N169LM

Summary

On 10 May 2002 at about 19:00 local time, a Glaser-Dirks-Flugzeubau DG-100G registered N169LM was involved in an accident near Union, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 May 2002 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Union, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Soaring (55LL)

Coordinates

42.2293, -88.5391

Aircraft

Glaser-Dirks-Flugzeubau DG-100G

Registration

N169LM

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Union → Union

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI02LA131

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the aero-tow takeoff. Factors to the accident were the high wind velocity and the gusting wind condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot lost control of the glider during the initial takeoff phase of an aero-tow launch. The pilot reported, "When I was ready to launch, I gave the wing-runner the signal to lift the wing and he did. I [signaled] the tow plane to begin take-off. At the start of the take-off roll, I gave a little right rudder input as the glider was veering left of the intended path. Almost immediately I saw the nose of the glider was moving very erratically. I decided to attempt to abort the launch by pulling the release." The pilot stated that after the tow-rope release was made, "... the plane was a few feet above the ground and it was out of control." The pilot reported the glider impacted the terrain on the north side of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems or malfunctions with the glider. A weather observation station, located at the De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB), about 16 nautical miles (nm) from the accident site on a 213 degrees magnetic heading, recorded the wind conditions approximately 8 minutes after the accident as 260 degrees magnetic at 15 knots gusting to 18 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.