I C A -Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2 N41CR

Summary

On 16 May 2021 at about 18:00 local time, a I C A -Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2 registered N41CR, operated by Sky Soaring Inc, was involved in an accident near Hampshire, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

16 May 2021 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hampshire, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Soaring (55LL)

Coordinates

42.1527, -88.5053

Aircraft

I C A -Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2

Registration

N41CR

Category

Glider

Year built

1977

Operator

Sky Soaring Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hampshire → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA226

1 person was seriously injured.

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in the exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack following the breakage of the weak/safety link during a winch launch, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin, and subsequent impact with trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor of the instructional glider flight reported that during a winch launch with the student pilot, the glider accelerated to 70 kts exceeding the winch launch speed. As the flight instructor attempted to decrease the airspeed to the normal winch launch speed, the weak/safety link broke and the glider separated from the towing cable. The flight instructor attempted to maneuver the glider for a landing back to the runway; however, during the turn to enter the final approach, the glider’s critical angle of attack was exceeded, and the glider entered an aerodynamic stall/spin. The glider impacted trees and terrain coming to rest on a grass field. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor also reported that he should have maintained sufficient airspeed to prevent a “stall/spin” at a low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.