NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ERA24LA098
Registry · N1202Z
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
BURKHART GROB FLUGZEUGBAU G103 TWIN ASTIR
Year of manufacture
1982 · 42 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19830302
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A05668
Registrant of record
TAMPA BAY SOARING SOCIETY INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The glider pilot’s failure to release from the towline after the tow plane experienced a loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
The tow plane and glider on tow had just lifted from the runway during takeoff when the tow plane experienced a loss of engine power. The tow plane landed straight-ahead on the runway. The glider continued in flight until it reached the limit of the tow rope and was pulled suddenly to the runway. The glider’s nose was crushed and the empennage separated. Examination of both the tow plane and the glider revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. A postaccident operational check of the airplane’s engine revealed no anomalies, and the tow release mechanism on the glider functioned normally. According to the FAA Glider Flying Handbook, “Upon losing sight of the towplane, the glider pilot must release immediately.” Further, “…if the towplane loses power after the glider is airborne, the glider pilot should pull the towline release, [and] land ahead…” Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
- — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Equipment/furnishings-(general)-Not used/operated
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2024_ERA24LA098.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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