What happened
During the initiation of an air tow takeoff at the United States 15-Meter National Soaring Championships, the pilot lost directional control of the glider when a wing made contact with the runway. The aircraft veered off the runway, resulting in a collision with an automobile and a spectator. The spectator was positioned 78 feet from the edge of the runway, within an area intended to be clear of personnel.
The ground crew was tasked with supporting the glider's wing during the early stages of takeoff until sufficient aerodynamic control was established. However, after the aircraft was connected to the tow plane, the tow plane failed to come to a complete stop. This caused the glider to be accelerated in a slingspend-like manner out of the ground crew's hands. The collision resulted in one injury.
The investigation
Investigators found that the "clear zone" where the collision occurred lacked specific markers, physical barriers, or "Do Not Cross" signs. While the injured spectator was familiar with the airport, he was positioned approximately 3.5 feet closer to the runway than permitted. The pilot noted that maintaining brakes until the towrope was stable would have prevented the loss of control, and that releasing the towrope upon observing a deviation from the centerline could have aborted the takeoff.
Findings
- The area intended to be devoid of personnel and vehicles was not clearly identified with signage or barriers.
- The tow plane did not reach a complete stop before the glider began its takeoff roll.
- Failure to maintain brakes until the towrope was stable contributed to the loss of directional control.