accident in San Antonio, TX

[[email protected]]

I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
information.

Tom Dixon
Idaho

[chipsoars]

Wayne Paul wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> > reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> > Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> > information.
> >
> > Tom Dixon
> > Idaho
> >
> Tom,
>
> A Google search found the following: "Pilot hospitalized after glider
> accident in Medina County, 06/09/06" Howeverf, the link to the video
> archive is no longer available.
>
> Wayne

>From the FAA Preliminary reports:

************************************************** ******************************
** Report created 6/16/2006 Record 11
**
************************************************** ******************************

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 9FM Make/Model: GLID Description: GLIDER CAPRONI
VIXXOLA CALIF A
Date: 06/10/2006 Time: 0045

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Serious Mid Air: N
Missing: N
Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
City: SAN ANTONIO State: TX Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT ON TAKEOFF, RIGHT WING FAILED, SAN GERONIMO AIRPARK, SAN
ANTONIO, TX

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0
Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0
Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0
Unk:

WEATHER: METAR SAT 0053Z 14011KT 10 CLR 32/13 A2989

OTHER DATA

Departed: SAN ANTONIO, TX Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: SAN ANTONIO, TX Flt Plan: Wx
Briefing:
Last Radio Cont:
Last Clearance:

FAA FSDO: SAN ANTONIO, TX (SW17) Entry date:
06/12/2006

[st4s03]

Here is a link:

http://www.aircraftone.com/aircraft/accidents/20001211X13572.asp

wrote:
> I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> information.
>
> Tom Dixon
> Idaho

[st4s03]

sorry, jumped the gun this is old.

st4s03 wrote:
> Here is a link:
>
> http://www.aircraftone.com/aircraft/accidents/20001211X13572.asp
>
> wrote:
> > I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> > reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> > Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> > information.
> >
> > Tom Dixon
> > Idaho

[P. Corbett]

wrote:
> I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> information.
>
> Tom Dixon
> Idaho
>
This may be a Caproni, at San Geronimo and a probable rigging problem??

Paul

[Marc Ramsey]

As an aside, I was looking to see if the accident had made it into the
NTSB database, and came across another one had a passage that I'm
surprised someone could type with a straight face:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20060616X00749&key=1

"The [pressurized turboprop-powered Lancair IV-P] amateur-built
experimental airplane was manufactured by LCIV LLC of Brasstown, North
Carolina, and was registered to and operated by Copia Leasing LLC of
Springville, Utah."

I mean, really, does "amateur-built experimental" mean anything anymore?

Marc

[Graeme Cant]

Marc Ramsey wrote:

> ...I mean, really, does "amateur-built experimental" mean anything anymore?

Answer 1 Yes. He really did build it.
But that doesn't mean that the owner-builder wants to expose himself and
his family to penury through litigation. I think a Lancair has four
seats so I assume he intends to carry passengers. That's a worry. I
think I'd put construction and ownership into a couple of $2 companies.
Are they domiciled in Delaware?

Has the construction company already folded? That's what happens with
construction companies here - from apartment buildings to bridges and
tunnels. I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen over your way too. It's
a rational reaction to lawyers (judges) extending the duty of care
further than reasonable men think is reasonable.

Answer 2: No. It's all a charade.
Bending the meaning of Experimental as far as you can is a rational
reaction to the money-devouring cloud (miasma?) of regulations and
bureaucracy surrounding the manufacture and maintenance of aircraft.
The more expensive and difficult it is to comply with normal
certification rules, the more worth while it is to undermine them with
Experimental.

Think of the tax-avoidance (evasion?) industry for a similar economic
model. If you make complying with the rules expensive enough, you make
it worth people avoiding them.

Graeme Cant

>
> Marc
>

[Shawn]

Graeme Cant wrote:

snip

> Think of the tax-avoidance (evasion?) industry for a similar economic
> model. If you make complying with the rules expensive enough, you make
> it worth people avoiding them.

Tax avoidance is now a government run industry in the US. ;-)

Shawn

[JS]

Back to original question.
I believe the Caproni was launched without properly connecting one of
those wingy things. If so, it should be obvious that the pin had not
been fully extended until flush by being turned with the tool provided.
A shame, I had probably my best thermal ever in that glider. Eighteen
knots confirmed with the altimeter and stopwatch.
Hopefully the pilots are OK...
Jim

[Gerhard Wesp]

st4s03 > wrote:
> sorry, jumped the gun this is old.

But interesting... How on earth is it possible that a glider pilot
fixes his eyes on the altimeter during the landing?

I feel reinforced in my practice to "unsetting" the altimeter on
training flights and telling my students not to use it, but to judge
from outside view.

Regards
-Gerhard
--
Gerhard Wesp / Holderenweg 2 / CH-8134 Adliswil
+41 (0)76 505 1149 / +43 699 815 987 70 (mobile)
+41 (0)44 668 1878 (office)
+41 (0)44 200 1818 (office fax)

[Duster]

wrote:
> I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> information.
>
> Tom Dixon
> Idaho

I live in Boerne, but have never seen a Caproni based there. The
county is different, too. I'll check tonight.

[Duster]

wrote:
> I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> information.
>
> Tom Dixon
> Idaho

There is a new glider operation on the west side of San Antonio, in
addition to the Boerne Stage operation. I beleive it is where the
accident Caproni was based. Here is the URL for the video clip of the
news report which indicates that the accident occured just before
takeoff (go to the archives and find the appropriately-titled video for
June 9th).

Michael

http://www2.mysanantonio.com/multimedia/video/NewsOnDemand/index.cfm?videos=38522

[raulb]

Here is what I heard. This was 3rd hand information when it came to me
(I will not say who I heard it from). For the record, I have flown
this particular glider many times.

The glider operation at San G purchased a Caproni Calif A-21 from a
pilot in California. Care was taken to instruct the new owners as to
how to fly the glider (it can be tricky on tow due to the side-by-side
seating). In California, the purchaser appears to have had difficulty
following the rope.

Notes AND videos were made as to how to assemble and disassemble the
Caproni. This also can be tricky due to the heavy 3-piece wing and the
wing connection pins which can easily bind and the wing tips must be
jiggled until the connecting pin quits turning (about 8 turns). I have
helped assemble a different Caproni but not this one.

Arrangements were made for another Caproni owner to be present for the
first assembly and first flight in San Antonio. He was busy the day
they wanted to fly or was not even contacted, I am unclear on that. It
appears that the glider was assembled without referring to the assembly
manual or video.

I have talked to many people who were present when the purchaser took
posession of the glider and the comments about his presence at the
California gliderport have not been complimentary--universally.

The speculation is, the new owner got "gottaflyitus" and could not wait
for experienced assistance to assemble the glider, assembled it wrong,
and blew $40,000+. Rumor has it that he subsequently lied to the FAA
and they pulled his license.

This is all rumor, I have absolutely nothing to back up any of --and,
of course, I have forgotten where I heard it.


Duster wrote:
> wrote:
> > I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
> > reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
> > Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
> > information.
> >
> > Tom Dixon
> > Idaho
>
> There is a new glider operation on the west side of San Antonio, in
> addition to the Boerne Stage operation. I beleive it is where the
> accident Caproni was based. Here is the URL for the video clip of the
> news report which indicates that the accident occured just before
> takeoff (go to the archives and find the appropriately-titled video for
> June 9th).
>
> Michael
>
> http://www2.mysanantonio.com/multimedia/video/NewsOnDemand/index.cfm?videos=38522

[Bert Willing]

Having owned a Calif for 8 years with lots of assembly and disassembly, I
just can't imagine how somebody would get it wrong and not having the bolts
flush the surface. Parts are heavy, but apart from this it is one of the
most easiest to assemble gliders I've ever come across - notably due to the
fact that there is nothing to jiggle during assembly...

Plain Darwin, I'd say.

"raulb" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Here is what I heard. This was 3rd hand information when it came to me
> (I will not say who I heard it from). For the record, I have flown
> this particular glider many times.
>
> The glider operation at San G purchased a Caproni Calif A-21 from a
> pilot in California. Care was taken to instruct the new owners as to
> how to fly the glider (it can be tricky on tow due to the side-by-side
> seating). In California, the purchaser appears to have had difficulty
> following the rope.
>
> Notes AND videos were made as to how to assemble and disassemble the
> Caproni. This also can be tricky due to the heavy 3-piece wing and the
> wing connection pins which can easily bind and the wing tips must be
> jiggled until the connecting pin quits turning (about 8 turns). I have
> helped assemble a different Caproni but not this one.
>
> Arrangements were made for another Caproni owner to be present for the
> first assembly and first flight in San Antonio. He was busy the day
> they wanted to fly or was not even contacted, I am unclear on that. It
> appears that the glider was assembled without referring to the assembly
> manual or video.
>
> I have talked to many people who were present when the purchaser took
> posession of the glider and the comments about his presence at the
> California gliderport have not been complimentary--universally.
>
> The speculation is, the new owner got "gottaflyitus" and could not wait
> for experienced assistance to assemble the glider, assembled it wrong,
> and blew $40,000+. Rumor has it that he subsequently lied to the FAA
> and they pulled his license.
>
> This is all rumor, I have absolutely nothing to back up any of --and,
> of course, I have forgotten where I heard it.
>
>
> Duster wrote:
>> wrote:
>> > I just heard, through a friend, that there was a glider accident
>> > reported in a San Antonio, TX paper. Maybe at the Boerne field?
>> > Something about a wing coming off on tow. Anybody have any
>> > information.
>> >
>> > Tom Dixon
>> > Idaho
>>
>> There is a new glider operation on the west side of San Antonio, in
>> addition to the Boerne Stage operation. I beleive it is where the
>> accident Caproni was based. Here is the URL for the video clip of the
>> news report which indicates that the accident occured just before
>> takeoff (go to the archives and find the appropriately-titled video for
>> June 9th).
>>
>> Michael
>>
>> http://www2.mysanantonio.com/multimedia/video/NewsOnDemand/index.cfm?videos=38522
>

[raulb]

What can I say? I was not present the day the new owner took
possession nor when he assembled it in San Anton. However, I have
flown this gider and know it to be a good, solid machine.

The only jiggle I remember from the other Caproni I have flown (I never
helped assemble the wrecked one) is if that pin binds before it is
fully seated. Admittedly, it has been more than 10 years since that
other glider (the one I helped assemble) has even seen the light of day
and thus more than 10 years since I helped assemble one.

At least no one was taken out of the gene pool, so no Darwin Award
here.

Bert Willing wrote:
> Having owned a Calif for 8 years with lots of assembly and disassembly, I
> just can't imagine how somebody would get it wrong and not having the bolts
> flush the surface. Parts are heavy, but apart from this it is one of the
> most easiest to assemble gliders I've ever come across - notably due to the
> fact that there is nothing to jiggle during assembly...
>
> Plain Darwin, I'd say.