Home / Disasters and Accidents / Glider Plummets After Tow Release
Glider Plummets After Tow Release
29 Aug
Summary
- Glider spiraled multiple times before hitting the ground.
- Pilot was experienced and a longtime club member.
- NTSB is investigating the Aug. 6 fatal crash.
A glider crashed fatally on August 6th in Burnet County, Texas, killing 76-year-old pilot Joseph Gregory. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released initial details regarding the incident.
The unpowered aircraft was being towed by a ground vehicle to an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet. Following its release from the tow line, the glider's nose abruptly turned to the right, initiating a rapid spiral descent.
Witnesses reported the glider spun around seven to eight times before impacting the ground west of the gliderport. The PZL-Bielsko B1-PW-5 glider sustained severe damage upon impact, with the cockpit and fuselage crushed.
Joseph Gregory, the sole occupant, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash occurred near Briggs, at a gliderport owned by the Fault Line Flyers Glider Club, an organization Gregory had been a long-standing member of. The club described him as a skilled and valued pilot. The NTSB's investigation into the cause of the crash is continuing.
