Accident Producing Video Clips
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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
Instructor Guide - The Kite
The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. This accident occurred because the glider pilot failed to compensate for the change in lift due to the increasing airspeed. You, the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- Did the accident pilot add back pressure to the stick?
- Was that action appropriate?
- Did the accident pilot add forward pressure to the stick?
- Was that action appropriate?
- What happens to the amount of lift the glider wing produces as the tow-plane accelerates?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take during this phase of flight?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- The accident report indicates the tow-pilot was seriously injured
- Is this a possible consequence?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likely hood of this accident occurring?
- 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
Instructor Guide - You Can't Always Go Back
The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurs because the glider pilot failed to establish and maintain the appropriate airspeed. You the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- What should be the pilots first action following a rope break?
- Did the accident pilot take this action?
- The accident pilot immediately turned to return to the runway, was this the only option?
- Could the pilot have landed straight ahead?
- Could the pilot have landed beside the runway?
- What options are available at your airport?
- What happens to the airspeed throughout the flight?
- What is the airspeed after the rope breaks?
- What is it when the glider stalls?
- Did the accident pilot skid the turn?
- What caused the glider to stall?
- Was this a straight or turning stall?
- What warning signs could have tipped the pilot off that something was wrong?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take during this phase of flight?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- 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
Instructor Guide-The Excursion
The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurs because the pilot failed to correctly compensate for the cross-wind during launch. The instructor should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- Did the accident pilot attempt to compensate for the cross-wind?
- Where those inputs appropriate?
- Did the accident pilot modify his control input as the glider began to move?
- Was that action appropriate?
- What happens to the control effectiveness as the tow-plane accelerates?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take during this phase of flight?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likely hood of this accident occurring?
- 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
Instructor Guide- High and Outside
The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurred after the glider pilot created an excessive amount of slack by quickly trying to recover from the initial mistake. You, the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- What caused the glider to move out of the normal tow position?
- Was the student over or under controlling the glider?
- What control inputs should the pilot make?
- What visual queues should the glider pilot pay attention to?
- What queues were visible?
- Once the glider starts getting out of position:
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take to stabilize things?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take to return to the normal tow position?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- The accident report describes events that occur after the video clip ends. Is this a possible outcome?
- How do you train pilots to recover from slack-line?
- Is releasing an option?
- When would releasing be an appropriate response?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likely hood of this accident occurring?
- 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
Instructor Guide - The Inadvertent Spiral
This page provides instructor's guidance on using The Inadvertent Spiral video in their training environment. The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurs after the pilot attempts to pull out of this dive without reducing the bank angle. You, the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- What action(s) did the pilot take to begin this maneuver?
- - Was that action(s) appropriate?
- What happens to the load factor of the glider as the bank angle increases?
- - Can you describe why the load factor increases?
- - What causes the bank angle to continue to increase?
- - What causes the airspeed to continue to increase?
- The accident occurs after the glider structure is overstressed:
- - What action(s) should the glider pilot take to recover from this maneuver?
- - What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- - What warning signs would you expect to observe?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likelihood of this accident occurring?
- 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
Instructor Guide-Nice View from Up Here
This page provides instructor's guidance on using the Nice View from up Here video in their training environment. The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurs after the pilot fails to properly control the gliders flight path and sink rate. You, the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- Did the accident pilot use the proper amount of spoilers during the approach?
- How could the accident pilot determine if the glider was descending at the proper rate?
- What should the initial TLAR (That Looks About Right) angle be?
- Demonstrate how the pilot can easily notice if/when the TLAR angle changes.
- What actions can the pilot take once he notices being high on base/final?
- What would happen if the pilot deployed full spoilers?
- What would happen if the pilot also increased airspeed?
- Would a forward slip be appropriate?
- How would the pilot enter this slip?
- What happens to the airspeed indication while slipping your glider?
- What signs indicate the pilot is executing the forward slip properly?
- How would the pilot exit the slip?
- At what altitude should the pilot exit the slip?
- What other action(s) could the glider pilot take during this phase of flight?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likely hood of this accident occurring?
- 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
Instructor Guide - A Bit of a Stretch
This page provides instructor's guidance on using the A Bit of a Stretch video in their training environment. The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurs because the pilot fails to close the spoilers, causing the glider to sink below the proper glide path. You, the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- What might have caused the pilot to deploy full spoilers?
- Could that action have been appropriate?
- Is being low a likely outcome if the student was high on downwind and applied full spoilers to compensate?
- What queues should the pilot be looking for to detect being high?
- What queues should the pilot be looking for to detect when the glider is back on the proper glide-slope?
- What queues should the pilot be looking for to detect being low?
- What queues should the pilot be looking for to detect if the gliders altitude is changing rapidly?
- Once the pilot detects that the glider is low:
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take to compensate?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likely hood of this accident occurring?
- 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.
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- Instructor Guide
Instructor Guide- Stall/Spin Base to Final
This page provides instructor's guidance on using the Stall/Spin Base to Final video in their training environment. The video clip contains a Condor simulation of a potential accident. The accident occurs when the accident pilot attempts to skid the glider around the turn from base to final. Excess rudder is used with opposite aileron and back pressure to keep the nose on the landing spot as the sink rate increases. You, the instructor, should emphasize the improper use of the flight controls during this event. You should also discuss the following points:
- What is the students general impression?
- Did the accident pilot add back pressure to the stick?
- Was that action appropriate?
- Did the accident pilot add forward pressure to the stick?
- Was that action appropriate?
- Did the accident pilot add left or right rudder?
- Was that action appropriate?
- Did the accident pilot change the aileron position?
- Was that action appropriate?
- What is the basic problem the pilot is attempting to deal with?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot take during this phase of flight?
- What action(s) should the glider pilot avoid?
- What can the glider pilot do to reduce the likely hood of this accident occurring?
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Wings Level
Take-up slack
Begin Launch