CENTRAIR 101A
Hartford, WI — July 3, 2015
Event Information
| Date | July 3, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA177 |
| Event ID | 20150714X05416 |
| Location | Hartford, WI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 43.34694, -88.38944 |
| Airport | HARTFORD MUNI |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | CENTRAIR |
| Model | 101A |
| Category | GLI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The glider pilot's failure to connect the elevator to the elevator control rod during the assembly process, resulting in a loss of control, and a collision with terrain during takeoff.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that during the glider assembly process, he was distracted several times, and did not connect the elevator to the elevator control rod. He reported that during the takeoff, while being towed by an airplane, there was an "abnormal pitch up." The pilot wrote that he was "rolling left, pitching up, and losing sight of the tow plane" and that he released the tow line. The glider bounced off the ground, impacted a tree line, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.