Clinton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clinton, Montana 59825
Sunday, September 26, 1993 16:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A SECOND TOW ATTEMPT, THE TOW ROPE BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE PILOT PULLED THE LEVER TO RELEASE THE ROPE, HOWEVER, THE ROPE DID NOT RELEASE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR LANDED ON THE ROPE AND THE GLIDER VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE GLIDER CONTINUED TO THE SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP AND COLLIDED WITH A STATIONARY RUNWAY BORDER CONE BEFORE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND MANEUVER THE GLIDER BACK ON THE AIRSTRIP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TOW EQUIPMENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CLINTON
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59825
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CLINTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 25S
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 3547
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 None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1893
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 5 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 755
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:39PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52AS
NTSB Number SEA93LA216
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 027056
Certified Max Gross Weight 713
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTH IDAHO SOARING ASSOC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 228 S. THIRD AVE
Aircraft Owner City SANDPOINT
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83864
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HELLGATE SOARING SOCIETY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5701 HILLVIEW WAY
Operator City MISSOULA
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59803
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 1600
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 4075
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --