History of Flight
On June 29, 2013, at 1229 Pacific daylight time, the glider departed Jacumba Airport at 1228. Witnesses observed the launch sequence: ground roll, rotation, and initial climb were uneventful, with the glider maintaining a high nose-up attitude. The pilot called "55" to the winch operator. Immediately after, at 150-300 feet altitude, the towline drogue parachute inflated, indicating a line release or weak-link break. The glider banked right with full right rudder, then the nose dropped and it entered an erect right spin, colliding with the ground after about 270 degrees of rotation. The towline remained continuous to the winch, and the Tost ring, weak-link, and parachute were intact.
Earlier that day, the club vice president had flown the same glider with the same passenger for an introductory flight; that takeoff and flight were uneventful. For the accident flight, the pilot (club president) took the passenger for a second flight, his first of the day. Wind had dropped, and minimal lift was present; they planned to remain near the airport.
Personnel
The 54-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with glider rating since March 2002. His most recent flight review was September 22, 2012. He flew regularly and was current in the accident glider. He did not hold an FAA medical certificate, nor was required to.
The 63-year-old passenger held an airline transport pilot certificate with multiengine land rating and private single-engine land privileges. He reported 4,499 total flight hours at his ATP application in August 2007, and 1,100 civilian hours on his most recent medical application. He had a first-class medical certificate issued January 25, 2013, with corrective lens limitation.
Glider Information
The SZD-54-2 Perkoz was a two-seat tandem glider with glass and carbon epoxy construction, imported from Poland in 2010 and registered as experimental exhibition in April 2011. A condition inspection completed June 7, 2013, recorded total flight time of 133.85 hours over 203 flights. The glider was approved for winch launch using the belly hook only, with recommended airspeed 53-59 knots.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather station, 17 miles west at Campo, California (elevation 2,600 ft), reported at 1252: wind 260° at 10 knots gusting 19, temperature 102°F, dew point 43°F, altimeter 29.89 inHg, density altitude about 6,000 ft. The medical examiner reported temperature of 112°F upon arrival at 1450.
Airport Information
Jacumba Airport had a single gravel runway 2,508 ft by 100 ft, oriented 07/25, elevation 2,844 ft. A gravel overrun of about 1,000 ft extended beyond runway 25. Terrain was flat fields and brush.
Wreckage and Impact
The glider came to rest on the north runway apron about 1,200 ft beyond the launch position and 1,500 ft short of the winch, on a westerly heading. The cabin was fragmented through to wing leading edges. Both wings remained attached; left wing snapped and bent at aileron root. Empennage detached from tailcone.
Medical and Pathological Information
Postmortem examinations determined cause of death for both as multiple blunt force injuries. For the pilot, autopsy showed mild cardiomegaly with biventricular dilatation; toxicology found acetaminophen in urine. For the passenger, coronary artery atherosclerosis with a stent in mid left circumflex artery; no evidence of new or old ischemia. He had history of chest pain treated with stent in 2003, and medications included Ramipril, aspirin, and ezetimibe/simvastatin. He passed a nuclear stress test on December 10, 2012. Toxicology found famotidine in liver. Vitreous chemistry indicated elevated VUN for both, with normal creatinine, possibly related to dehydration per NTSB Medical Officer.
Tests and Research
Examination of the wreckage revealed control continuity; impact damage prevented assessment of trim positions. Aerodynamic brakes were partially extended post-impact but consistent with retraction at impact. Tow hook release system was functional. The winch was a single-drum type with 3,800 ft synthetic line.
Additional Information
The FAA Glider Flying Handbook describes normal winch launch procedures. Club procedures stated that if line fails below 400 ft, land straight ahead. Weight and balance calculations showed the glider was within limits for a utility category flight.