MINR · PIPER PA-25-235 · 1989-05-20 · WARRENTON, VA, USA
Event
NTSB number
BFO89LA035
Event ID
20001213X28253
Type
Accident
Date
1989-05-20
Location
WARRENTON, VA, USA
Injuries
Highest injury
MINR
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Minor
1
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
1
Aircraft
Make
PIPER
Model
PA-25-235
Registration
N9489P
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE GLIDER PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB RATE DURING TAKEOFF AND THE DELAY IN RELEASING FROM THE TOWPLANE AFTER REALIZING THAT HE WAS CLIMBING WELL ABOVE THE TOWPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UPDRAFT ENCOUNTERED AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE GLIDER PILOT.