Pilot launched without noticing lines over top right side of glider. Unable to clear the line-over in flight with limited climb rate. Killed motor at 40-50 feet while attempting to turn into wind, crashed at 30-40 mph and rolled 50 feet. Pilot unharmed.
Lines & Brakes Knots / Twists / Obstructions
Maximum — exactly determined
During launch, pilot did not realize he had a line or lines over top right side of glider. Once in harness it made it worse and he could not shake it off. Climb rate was very little to none. Pilot flew the glider as best he could, missing powerlines, swamps/marsh, and trees. Looking for a crop field with little or no crops (fields were very soft from rain), he killed the motor at 40 to 50 feet from the ground while trying to head into the wind. He dropped before completing the turn, hitting the ground at about 30 to 40 mph and 'apple carted' (rolled) fifty feet to a stop. Pilot was sore but escaped unharmed. Incident captured on Go-Pro helmet cam.
Pilot error: Failed to detect line-over during preflight or launch. Poor decision to kill motor at low altitude while attempting a turn.
Not deployed
Mostly wrong inputs while reacting
March 18, 2010
United States
Airfer Tornado M21Y
Ozone
Eden 4
25
15 m
Age: 50, Weight: 200 lbs
Not used
On launch I did not realize I had a line or lines over top right side of glider. Once in harness it made it worst, I could not brake it off. and climb rate was very little to none. I flew the glider the best I could. Missing powerlines, swamps/marsh, trees Upon looking for a crop field with little or no crops (since it been raining in Delaware for the last year very soft field) I killed the motor at 40 to 50 feet from the ground and trying to head into the wind I drop before I made the turn hitting the ground about 30 to 40 mph "apple carted" fifty feet to a stop. I did get this on film from my Go-Pro Helmet cam. This was a pilot error from the start and ended with pilot error.