Coyote Run Glider Port Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prescott Valley, Arizona 86301
Sunday, January 25, 1998 12:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The glider uses two attachment points on its bridle, one on either side of the fuselage, and has a single retractable wheel in the center of the fuselage. The left side bridle attachment point for the glider became unattached as the glider began the winch tow. The asymmetrical force then pulled the glider to the left, and the left wing struck a parked truck. The glider then proceeded in a sharp angle away from the runway towards the windsock pole, still under tow on only the right side and still accelerating. The glider launched into the air and struck the top of the windsock pole with the inboard portion of the right wing. The pilot reported that he then pulled the release to disconnect the tow wire from the glider. The right wingtip then struck the ground and the glider swung around approximately 270 degrees as the fuselage and tail struck the ground and came to a stop. According to an FAA inspector, the bridle was incorrectly attached at the time of the accident by the ground crew.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the ground crew to correctly attach the tow bridle, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/25/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PRESCOTT VALLEY
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86301
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COYOTE RUN GLIDER PORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5000
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 220
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 6 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3463
NTSB Number LAX98LA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Let
Aircraft Model BLANIK L-13
Aircraft Series Identifier BLANIK L-1
Aircraft Serial Number 173921
Certified Max Gross Weight 1102
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 2017
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRESCOTT SOARING ASSOCIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 831 ROSSER STREET
Aircraft Owner City PRESCOTT
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 10
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --