Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 N245AB

Summary

On 6 June 2014 at about 19:06 local time, a Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 registered N245AB, operated by Coggins David L, was involved in an accident near Wallis, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2014 at 19:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Wallis, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Ghsa-Wallis Glideport (TE71)

Coordinates

29.6133, -96.0278

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5

Registration

N245AB

Category

Glider

Year built

1984

Operator

Coggins David L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wallis → Wallis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA280

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain direction control of the glider during takeoff in gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that he was to be towed by a tow plane and make a "no assist launch." The glider's wings were loosely supported by wing stands and the tow rope was attached from the tow plane to the glider. When the slack was out of the tow rope, the glider pilot made a radio call "Go, go, go" to the tow pilot. The glider began to lift off from the grass runway when pilot noticed that the tow plane moved left laterally from what he assumed was a gust of wind. The tow pilot corrected back to the right and the glider pilot readied to do the same. When the glider entered the area of suspected wind gust, it suddenly ascended about 8 feet and the left wing lifted. The pilot applied full left aileron and left rudder and forward pressure on the control stick in order to descend and regain the correct flight path. The left wing continued to lift so the glider pilot released the tow rope as the glider made a 30 degree right turn. The glider exited the area of suspected wind gust and the glider pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the glider impacted the runway. The glider sustained substantial damage to the rear fuselage and empennage. He also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.