Incident Overview
On July 7, 1983, a tow plane collided with a van that had been parked on the runway by the airport owner. The owner stated that he placed the van on the runway with the intention of closing it, and that he had notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the closure. However, no Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) had been issued for that date; a NOTAM had been issued for the previous day, July 6, 1983.
Sequence of Events
The airport owner reportedly drove the van down the runway with its lights on and stopped approximately 1,000 feet from the threshold. The van was unoccupied at the time of the collision. During the tow plane's takeoff, the pilot and his companions observed the van's lights but believed the vehicle would clear the runway. The pilot's forward vision was reduced by the presence of a camera and a passenger (a photographer) in front of him.
Meanwhile, the pilot of the glider being towed saw that the van would not be cleared and released the tow rope, subsequently landing on a taxiway. The tow plane, however, did not clear the van, and the collision occurred in the middle of the runway.
Investigation Details
The airport owner's actions were intended to prevent takeoffs, but no official runway closure notice was in effect for that day. The investigation noted that the tow plane pilot's view was obstructed, and the glider pilot took evasive action. No determination of probable cause was provided in the source material.