CALIFORNIA CITY, CA, USA
N21RB
SCHEMPP-HIRTH NIMBUS II
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED WHEN IT RELEASED AT APRX 300 FT AGL & ENTERED A LEFT TURN. THE TURN CONTINUED, THE BANK ANGLE INCREASED & THE GLIDER SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE GROUND APRX 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE ARPT. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT A RIGHT TURN WAS THE STANDARD PROCEDURE AFTER A RELEASE FROM A TOW. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OF THE GLIDER WAS FOUND, BUT ITS TOW HOOK WAS NOT LOCATED. THE TOW ROPE & TOW HOOK ON THE TOW PLANE WERE EXAMINED & NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. RESULTS OF MEDICAL & TOXICALOGICAL EXAMS WERE NEGATIVE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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