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Accident Producing Video Clips

This page provides pilots and instructors examples of improper actions or inactions on the part of a pilot. Each video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. Pilots should discuss each event with an instructor to determine what when wrong and what actions the pilot could have taken to prevent this accident. The Instructor Guide provides instructors with talking points and more details about what each clip contains.

  • The Kite
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC001
    Aircraft: Pawnee PA-25, ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Uninjured
    The tow-pilot was seriously injured and the Pawnee was substantially damaged after the airplane flipped over during a failed aerotow launch. The glider pilot reported "I lost sight of the tow-plane so I released and landed in the runway overrun area. I realized the tow-plane had flipped over after I got out of the glider."

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the glider kitting during the initial portion of the aerotow.

    Instructor Guide

  • You Can't Always Go Back
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC002
    Aircraft: ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Fatal
    The glider pilot was fatally injured and the ASK-13 was substantially damaged following a failed aerotow launch. Witnesses reported that the launch seemed to be progressing normally when the rope broke about 200 ft AGL. The pilot immediately began a right turn to return to the runway. The glider impacted terrain in a vertical descent after the right wing dropped.

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the glider stalling and spinning while attempting to return to the runway following a low altitude rope break.

    Instructor Guide

  • The Excursion
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC003
    Aircraft: ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Uninjured
    The glider pilot was not injured and the ASK-13 was substantially damaged following a loss-of-control ground loop during the take-off roll. The glider pilot stated "The right wing touched the ground, causing the glider to turn sideways. I tried to released as soon as the glider started to turn, but I couldn't find the release handle quickly enough."

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the glider's right wing striking the ground during the initial portion of the aerotow.

    Instructor Guide

  • High and Outside
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC004
    Aircraft: Pawnee PA-25, ASK-13
    Injuries: 3 Uninjured
    The glider flight instructor and student pilot were not injured but the ASK-13 was substantially damaged after the tow-rope wrapped around the right wing of the glider. The instructor reported "the student was attempting to return to the normal tow position when slack developed in the rope. The slack went behind the wing and the rope finally broke after it crushed the right aileron. The accident could have been prevented if I had released after the slack line had developed."

    Probable Cause: The instructors delayed response in correcting the students actions lead to slack developing in the tow-line resulting in the rope wrapping around the right wing.

    Instructor Guide

  • The Inadvertent Spiral
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC005
    Aircraft: ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Fatal
    The glider pilot was fatally injured and the ASK-13 was destroyed following an in-flight breakup. Witnesses reported seeing the glider descending at a high rate of speed when the right wing separated from the fuselage. The left wing and fuselage exhibited extensive crush damage. The right wing was located 1.2 miles NW of the main wreckage.

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the in-flight separation of the right wing.

    Instructor Guide

  • Nice View from Up Here
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC006
    Aircraft: ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Minor
    The glider pilot received minor injuries and the ASK-13 was substantially damaged after impacting the airport perimeter fence 1/4 mile past the end of the runway. The pilot reported that he "ran through lift on base and he was unable to get down." A post accident examination of the glider revealed no malfunction in the flight controls or spoilers.

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the glider being high and overrunning the runway.

    Instructor Guide

  • A Bit of a Stretch
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC007
    Aircraft: ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Uninjured
    The glider pilot was uninjured and the ASK-13 was substantially damaged after it struck a tree and unimproved terrain short of the runway. The pilot reported encountering 'heavy sink on base leg" and the glider was unable to glide to the runway. A post accident examination of the glider revealed no malfunction in the flight controls or spoilers.

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the glider being low and unable to make the runway.

    Instructor Guide

  • Stall/Spin Base to Final
    SSF Identification: CSA11DC008
    Aircraft: ASK-13
    Injuries: 1 Fatal
    The glider pilot was fatally injured and the ASK-13 was substantially damaged when the glider impacted terrain in a near vertical attitude. Witnesses reported the glider looked low on base and the pilot appeared to use an excessive amount of rudder during the turn to final. The glider stalled and spun into the ground short of the runway.

    Probable Cause: The pilot's improper control inputs resulted in the glider entering a low altitude spin from which the pilot was unable to recover.

    Instructor Guide