Columbia Gorge Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

The Dalles, Oregon 98617
Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Both the tow plane pilot and the glider pilot in tow reported strong gusting winds from their left at the time of takeoff. The tow plane pilot and one witness reported that the glider gained altitude rapidly and raised the tail of the tow plane. The tow plane pilot was unable to maintain control as the aircraft was pulled to the left. The tow line was released and the glider pilot aborted his takeoff and landed straight ahead without further incident. The tow plane veered off the side of the runway, traveling over rough terrain. The tow plane subsequently nosed over coming to rest inverted. The glider pilot reported that just after the tow plane lifted off a gust of wind raised the left wing and the right main landing gear touched the runway surface. The glider pilot seeing that the tow plane was in trouble, released from the tow plane and landed on the remaining runway. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported from 310 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 26 knots. Takeoff was from runway 2.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Aircraft control was not maintained by the tow plane pilot and the glider pilot did not maintain a proper climb rate during the initial climb. A direct crosswind and wind gusts were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City The Dalles
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98617
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 453711N
Event Location Longitude 1211004W
Event Location Airport Columbia Gorge Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DLS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 247
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 247
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 19
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17363
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 11 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1305
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2005 9:13AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, Oregon

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10RN
NTSB Number SEA04LA187
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WSK PZL Warzawa-Okecie
Aircraft Model PZL-104 Wilga 80
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CF15810609
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 30 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Northwest Skysport
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3650 Airport Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Hood River
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97031
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DLS
Departure City The Dalles
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code DLS
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2
Runway Length 4401
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --