Clow International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plainfield, Illinois 60544
Tuesady, July 31, 1990 13:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE GLIDER PILOT STATED THAT HE ALLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT TO GET OUT OF POSITION BEHIND THE TOW PLANE DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS AFRAID THE TOW LINE WOULD PULL THE TOW PLANE OUT OF CONTROL AT LOW ALTITUDE, SO HE RELEASED AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT FOR A LANDING. THE GLIDER IMPACTED TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT AND CAME TO REST IN A BEAN FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE GLIDER PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING AT LOW ATITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PLAINFIELD
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60544
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CLOW INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1C5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 670
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ARR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 877
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1435
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42049
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N342KS
NTSB Number CHI90LA220
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 SCHLEICHER
Aircraft Model ASK-21
Aircraft Series Identifier ASK-21
Aircraft Serial Number 21253
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 Annual
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 ADVANCED SOARING KLUB, LTD.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1160 CATHERINE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City NAPERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60540
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ADVANCED SOARING KLUB, LTD.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1160 CATHERINE AVENUE
Operator City NAPERVILLE
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60540
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 1300
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 3370
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --