Tow Pilot Killed at Skyline

[Paul Agnew]

https://royalexaminer.com/2017/10/07/pilot-dead-glider-tow-plane-crash-saturday-front-royal-airport/

Tragic news from our friends at Skyline.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Paul A.
Treasure Coast Soaring Club

[Mary Nelson]

At 13:55 08 October 2017, Paul Agnew wrote:
>https://royalexaminer.com/2017/10/07/pilot-dead-glider-tow-plane-crash-
saturday-front-royal-airport/
>
>Tragic news from our friends at Skyline.
>
>Condolences to his family and friends.
>
>Paul A.
>Treasure Coast Soaring Club
>
>Deepest condolences to his family and all his friends at Skyline.

[Michael Opitz]

At 13:55 08 October 2017, Paul Agnew wrote:
>https://royalexaminer.com/2017/10/07/pilot-dead-glider-tow-plane-
crash-saturday-front-royal-airport/
>
>Tragic news from our friends at Skyline.
>
>Condolences to his family and friends.
>
>Paul A.
>Treasure Coast Soaring Club
>
>
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/small-plane-
crashes-killing-reston-man/2017/10/07/ff4d7968-abaa-11e7-850e-
2bdd1236be5d_story.html?utm_term=.a8f965b236cd

[Dan Marotta]

I would like to have read the article, but my browser was consumed with
demands that I allow ads and, when I did, that's all I saw:
advertisements, no story.

On 10/8/2017 10:19 AM, Michael Opitz wrote:
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/small-plane-
> crashes-killing-reston-man/2017/10/07/ff4d7968-abaa-11e7-850e-
> 2bdd1236be5d_story.html?utm_term=.a8f965b236cd

--
Dan, 5J

[son_of_flubber]

You might just need to scroll down to get past the ads, but here's the text and picture captions:


Pilot dead in glider tow plane crash Saturday at Front Royal Airport
By Roger Bianchini - October 7, 20170

tweet

Above, looking west to the right of the FRR runway over hangars and parked aircraft – the crash occurred beyond the trees to the right of the hangars; below, a fire truck leaves the scene past a WCSO unit at intersection of Ridgeway Rd. and long driveway into 1747 Ridgeway where plane went down. Photos/Roger Bianchini


According to Front Royal Airport (FRR) Manager Reggie Cassagnol, the pilot of a glider tow plane that crashed shortly after take off early Saturday afternoon died at the scene. That scene was reported as property at 1747 Ridgeway Road. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office still had the scene cordoned off several hours after the fatal crash.

The glider being towed aloft on a beautiful, if windy fall day was able to detach its tow line and land without injury to its occupants. No identification of the pilot was immediately available. Cassagnol noted that emergency glider detachments are a constant part of the training regimen of the club based at the airport.

Returning from the scene mid-afternoon, Cassagnol appeared shaken. The Skyline Soaring Club has long been a valued and active tenant at FRR. In fact, several years ago this reporter was taken up for a glider ride by the club as background research for a story on the club and its presence at FRR.

Cassagnol theorized that at takeoff the tandem plane and glider encountered some turbulence that led to the glider rising above the tow plane and jerking the plane’s tail upward. The incident appears to have occurred before the plane had climbed high enough to successfully correct what had suddenly turned into a nose dive at low altitude and full takeoff throttle.


Above, Airport Manager Reggie Cassagnol’s vehicle leaves the scene; below, the ‘X’ marks approximate location of crash in relation to airport on Warren County map.



One person at the airport terminal at the time of the accident said there was a gap from when they saw smoke from beyond the trees to the west of the airport and the sound of an explosion. The plane is believed to have burned after impact. Fire engines were at the scene, along with units from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police.


Above, county and state police units at the airport; below, it was a solemn scene inside the FRR terminal in the hours after the fatal crash.


Unconfirmed reports from the scene indicated that the 1747 Ridgeway Road property where the crash occurred belongs to the daughter of Fork District Supervisor Archie Fox. Fox could not be reached for verification prior to initial publication of this story.

Further details will be added to this story as they become available.


From Ridgeway Rd. looking east back down the runway the tow plane and glider were departing westward from. The entrance to the accident scene is about a third of a mile further down Ridgeway to left.

[son_of_flubber]

And since the two accounts of the accident are significantly different, here is the WAPO article.

Small plane crashes, killing Reston man
By Rachel Weiner and Martin Weil October 8 at 6:25 AM

A 76-year-old Reston man was killed Saturday in the crash of a single engine private plane that had been towing a glider near Front Royal, Va., the Virginia state police said.

The victim was identified as Steven B. Zaboji, the pilot of the Piper Pawnee that crashed and caught fire just outside Front Royal Airport.

Zaboji had been towing a glider, and after the glider disconnected, the Piper began experiencing problems, the state police said.

It crashed onto private property near the airport and the impact ignited a fire, the police said.

They said Zaboji died at the scene. The glider landed safely. No injuries on the ground were reported. The matter is under investigation

[Dan Marotta]

Thanks.Â* It's too bad about the tow pilot - such a shame. Condolences to
family and friends.

On 10/8/2017 11:17 AM, son_of_flubber wrote:
>
> And since the two accounts of the accident are significantly different, here is the WAPO article.
>
> Small plane crashes, killing Reston man
> By Rachel Weiner and Martin Weil October 8 at 6:25 AM
>
> A 76-year-old Reston man was killed Saturday in the crash of a single engine private plane that had been towing a glider near Front Royal, Va., the Virginia state police said.
>
> The victim was identified as Steven B. Zaboji, the pilot of the Piper Pawnee that crashed and caught fire just outside Front Royal Airport.
>
> Zaboji had been towing a glider, and after the glider disconnected, the Piper began experiencing problems, the state police said.
>
> It crashed onto private property near the airport and the impact ignited a fire, the police said.
>
> They said Zaboji died at the scene. The glider landed safely. No injuries on the ground were reported. The matter is under investigation

--
Dan, 5J

[[email protected]]

Very sad. What a terrible loss. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Obviously he had lots of fuel on board to have the plane burn up upon impact, so it probably wasn't fuel starvation.

Does anyone know what type of towhook was installed? Could the glider have "kited" to cause this?

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

Thanks for the link and info.

Condolences to the pilots family and friends.
Having been through it, best wishes to the site and pilots.

For anyone wanting to take a stand on what, "may have prevented it.....", plenty of threads on RAS to do so, stay out of here.
Got it?!

[JP Stewart]

On Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 9:55:35 AM UTC-4, Paul Agnew wrote:
> https://royalexaminer.com/2017/10/07/pilot-dead-glider-tow-plane-crash-saturday-front-royal-airport/
>
> Tragic news from our friends at Skyline.
>
> Condolences to his family and friends.
>
> Paul A.
> Treasure Coast Soaring Club

I've spoken with several people who saw it and post this only to get a few facts out and hopefully prevent speculation. Steve was a great pilot and human and I flew with him quite a few times. His son Chris is a very active instructor and towpilot at Skyline and BRSS and it would be respectful if this group offered support to him and the rest of the Zabojis rather than jumping to conclusions about what happened.

The comments in the article by the airport manager (Reggie) are speculative and not substantiated at this point. The tow began very normally with a student and instructor on board. At ~300 ft, they released (I haven't spoken with them so I won't speculate on what they saw) after sensing there was an issue and executed a rope break to a safe landing. The towplane continued descending with no apparent reaction until it hit the ground and immediately caught fire. (Described as a movie like explosion at impact) The incident was partially recorded on a GoPro in the glider and the Pawnee had a TOST reel (with a guillotine and weak link.)

Best,
JP

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 5:05:10 PM UTC-4, Jp Stewart wrote:
> On Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 9:55:35 AM UTC-4, Paul Agnew wrote:
> > https://royalexaminer.com/2017/10/07/pilot-dead-glider-tow-plane-crash-saturday-front-royal-airport/
> >
> > Tragic news from our friends at Skyline.
> >
> > Condolences to his family and friends.
> >
> > Paul A.
> > Treasure Coast Soaring Club
>
> I've spoken with several people who saw it and post this only to get a few facts out and hopefully prevent speculation. Steve was a great pilot and human and I flew with him quite a few times. His son Chris is a very active instructor and towpilot at Skyline and BRSS and it would be respectful if this group offered support to him and the rest of the Zabojis rather than jumping to conclusions about what happened.
>
> The comments in the article by the airport manager (Reggie) are speculative and not substantiated at this point. The tow began very normally with a student and instructor on board. At ~300 ft, they released (I haven't spoken with them so I won't speculate on what they saw) after sensing there was an issue and executed a rope break to a safe landing. The towplane continued descending with no apparent reaction until it hit the ground and immediately caught fire. (Described as a movie like explosion at impact) The incident was partially recorded on a GoPro in the glider and the Pawnee had a TOST reel (with a guillotine and weak link.)
>
> Best,
> JP

I had the pleasure of getting to know Chris this year and mentoring him. My heart goes out to this fine young man for his loss.
Sadly
UH

[[email protected]]

Amen

AE

[[email protected]]

This is just terrible news. My deepest condolences to Chris and the rest of the Zaboji family.

Matt

[Michael Opitz]

>The tow began very normally with a
>st=
>udent and instructor on board. At ~300 ft, they released (I haven't
spoken
>=
>with them so I won't speculate on what they saw) after sensing
there was
>an=
> issue and executed a rope break to a safe landing. The towplane
continued
>=
>descending with no apparent reaction until it hit the ground and
>immediatel=
>y caught fire. (Described as a movie like explosion at impact) The
>incident=
> was partially recorded on a GoPro in the glider and the Pawnee
had a TOST
>=
>reel (with a guillotine and weak link.)
>
>Best,
>JP
>
Personally, I have lost two very experienced (though older) good
friends who had extreme / sudden medical incapacitations at low
altitude on take-of while flying solo. Let the NTSB do their work,
and we'll all find out in due time. I'm sure that the GoPro footage
will prove very useful in the investigation.

RO

[Tom[_21_]]

Our hearts go out to the family, friends and all who are affected by this tragic loss. We are so sorry.

Tom

[Renny[_2_]]

On Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 7:55:35 AM UTC-6, Paul Agnew wrote:
> https://royalexaminer.com/2017/10/07/pilot-dead-glider-tow-plane-crash-saturday-front-royal-airport/
>
> Tragic news from our friends at Skyline.
>
> Condolences to his family and friends.
>
> Paul A.
> Treasure Coast Soaring Club

The NTSB Accident preliminary report has been posted here...

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20171007X53946&AKey=1&RType=Prelim&IType=FA