What happened
Following two successful flights in a personal hang glider, the pilot attempted a short flight using a different aircraft. The initial launch was an aborted auto-tow attempt, which the pilot managed to land safely in a field from an altitude of approximately 40 to 50 feet.
During a subsequent launch attempt, the flight proceeded normally until the aircraft reached its typical climb altitude. At this point, the nose of the glider pitched upward by approximately 15 degrees. Shortly after this attitude change, the tow rope snapped. The aircraft then entered a near-vertical pitch-up position. This was followed by a sequence of a steep dive and another pitch-up, resembling a stall turn maneuver. The flight concluded when the glider struck the ground in a steep, nosedown attitude with the right wing low. The impact resulted in one fatality.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of aerodynamic events following the failure of the tow rope. Investigators examined the flight path, noting the transition from a standard climb to the extreme pitch-up and the subsequent loss of control. The analysis centered on the aircraft's behavior during the transition from a tow-assisted climb to an unpowered state after the rope parted.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the extreme pitch-up attitude and subsequent stall-like maneuvers following the parting of the tow rope.
- The aircraft's flight path involved a series of uncontrolled pitch changes, including a steep dive and a near-vertical orientation.
- The impact with the ground occurred in a high-energy, nosedown position.