Seminole Lake Accident

Uli,

The pilot over corrected a line up issue on the 200 ft wide runway. Wind was below 5 mph out of the southwest. The aircraft was moving to the right fairly rapidly and the right wing contacted the hangar which spun the glider around 180 degrees. The left wing then contacted a support post in the same hangar. The FAA has concluded their investigation and a report was sent to the NTSB. Thought the New Year would finally be the year where people looked at the good in the world and not shouting from the pulpits behind anonymous cloaks of invisibility.

As a teen absorbing everything I could about soaring, George Moffat became a hero of mine. Years later, after lying to the owner of SLG (Knut) to fly in my first contest (2003 Seniors), we had adjoining rooms and I invited him to join my wife and I for dinner after a practice day. He accepted to my delight because later he would give a complete detailed account of......completing his return to earth by crashing into and remaining in a tree some 20' above the ground while on final approach. He struck lt off as an 'incompetent bad break'. Later , in between writing boring English literature (sorry George!), he would become 2 time World Champion .
My point is how is the pilot doing who suffered the accident? Rich, tell the pilot to pay the bill, wipe off the dust, and get back in the cockpit. If a World Champion and many others had to crash to get better, well hell it's part aviation. Any landing you and observers can walk away from is a good landing, right?
Accidents happen, but embarrassment lingers. Encouragement is our duty.

R

Yes, but with some careful judgement in between as to those who ought be encouraged after an accident and those who should not be. Not everyone makes a good pilot.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 9:52:29 AM UTC-7, Retting wrote:
As a teen absorbing everything I could about soaring, George Moffat became a hero of mine. Years later, after lying to the owner of SLG (Knut) to fly in my first contest (2003 Seniors), we had adjoining rooms and I invited him to join my wife and I for dinner after a practice day. He accepted to my delight because later he would give a complete detailed account of.......completing his return to earth by crashing into and remaining in a tree some 20' above the ground while on final approach. He struck lt off as an 'incompetent bad break'. Later , in between writing boring English literature (sorry George!), he would become 2 time World Champion .
My point is how is the pilot doing who suffered the accident? Rich, tell the pilot to pay the bill, wipe off the dust, and get back in the cockpit. If a World Champion and many others had to crash to get better, well hell it's part aviation. Any landing you and observers can walk away from is a good landing, right?
Accidents happen, but embarrassment lingers. Encouragement is our duty.

R

On Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 8:52:29 AM UTC-8, Retting wrote:
As a teen absorbing everything I could about soaring, George Moffat became a hero of mine. Years later, after lying to the owner of SLG (Knut) to fly in my first contest (2003 Seniors), we had adjoining rooms and I invited him to join my wife and I for dinner after a practice day. He accepted to my delight because later he would give a complete detailed account of.......completing his return to earth by crashing into and remaining in a tree some 20' above the ground while on final approach. He struck lt off as an 'incompetent bad break'. Later , in between writing boring English literature (sorry George!), he would become 2 time World Champion .
My point is how is the pilot doing who suffered the accident? Rich, tell the pilot to pay the bill, wipe off the dust, and get back in the cockpit. If a World Champion and many others had to crash to get better, well hell it's part aviation. Any landing you and observers can walk away from is a good landing, right?
Accidents happen, but embarrassment lingers. Encouragement is our duty.

R


Thanks for posting this comment. "A man who never made a mistake never did anything"! "Live and learn". H...

All I think it is safe to say that Seminole has an abundance of support and enthusiasm, coupled with great people that run the place. 2018 IS going to be a great year. Rich I got your back and I am weapons free!

CM
Colin Mead

Hey you guys familiar with seminole, whats the current rate for a 2k tow? And do they require Flarm or any other anti collision electronics to get a tow there?
Thanks

Tows to 2K are $45 and we do not require FLARM to fly at our site. However, most of the newer ships to the gliderport are equipped with FLARM. We encourage the installation of this equipment in your ship and have several pilots on the field that can help you with that process.

Happy New Year and a safe soaring season,
Rich Owen

Thanks Rich, we will make trip and come visit you folks.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 10:04:54 AM UTC-5, Rich Owen wrote:
Uli,

The pilot over corrected a line up issue on the 200 ft wide runway. Wind was below 5 mph out of the southwest. The aircraft was moving to the right fairly rapidly and the right wing contacted the hangar which spun the glider around 180 degrees. The left wing then contacted a support post in the same hangar. The FAA has concluded their investigation and a report was sent to the NTSB. Thought the New Year would finally be the year where people looked at the good in the world and not shouting from the pulpits behind anonymous cloaks of invisibility.

Rich,
Happy New Year to you, too.
Thanks for the enlightenment! You are completely missing the point of my comment. In my paying job as well as in the function I hold in our club, I am always interested in answering the 'how did that happen?' question!
Did I judge the ability or performance of the pilot? Did I say anything negative about him/her? As I stated initially, there had to be more to that story since things didn't add up from the info that was provided and there was. Now it makes sense. There is no anonymous cloak of invisibility here; I am using my real name and not some made-up junk. Accidents/incidents like this need to be discussed as a learning opportunity; nothing more, nothing less!
Uli
'AS'

Rich was not referring to you Uli, calm down.
Eat a cookie.

R