Usaf Academy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Usaf Academy, Colorado 80840
Friday, April 26, 2002 12:08 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a tow approximately 7,500 feet msl, the glider was positioned above and to the right of the tow plane. The tow plane suddenly rolled left and descended in a vertical spiral, pulling the glider with it. After making several attempts to release the tow, the cadet instructor heard a loud "snap" and the glider broke free. The tow plane struck the ground, exploded, and burned. The glider returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The tow plane's tow hook was found unlatched and the tow line was draped over the surrounding trees. One end of the rope, with eyelet still attached, was next to the tow plane. The other end had failed and the braids were "feathered." No anomalies with the glider's latching mechanism were noted. The portion of tow rope and hook that attached to the glider was not located. Postmortem examination disclosed "significant atherosclerotic plaque deposition" of the coronary arteries.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of control for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1208
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City USAF Academy
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80840
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385904N
Event Location Longitude 1045024W
Event Location Airport USAF Academy
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AFF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 280
Airport Elevation 6572
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID AFF
Elevation of weather observation facility 6572
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.82
Density Altitude (feet) 8328
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12971
NTSB Notification Source USAF Academy
NTSB Notification Date Apr 26 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1255
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2003 4:06PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver, Colorado

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N990CC
NTSB Number DEN02GA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper/Cub Crafters
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 9917CC
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 17 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 1215
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Doss Aviation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3320 Carefree Cir., W.
Aircraft Owner City Colorado Springs
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80917
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code AFF
Departure City USAF Academy
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AFF
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2003 11:19AM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16R
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --