NTSB CAROL · Event
Event NYC92LA108
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE GLIDER DURING TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER, AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
Factual narrative
THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE MOTORIZED GLIDER DURING TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT, 'BEFORE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT COULD REGAIN CONTOL, THE RIGHT WING HIT HIGH GRASS WHICH CAUSED THE GLIDER TO GROUND LOOP.' THE STUDENT PILOT HAD 13 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT HAD 10 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL GLIDER, WITH 1 HOUR AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1992_NYC92LA108.txt.
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