Schempp-Hirth Mini-Nimbus C, N16MG: Accident occurred March 16, 2021 at Seminole Lake Gliderport (6FL0), Groveland, Lake County, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Thermal Research Corporation

https://registry.faa.gov/N16MG

Location: Groveland, FL

Accident Number: ERA21LA156

Date & Time: March 16, 2021, 12:52 Local 

Registration: N16MG

Aircraft: SCHEMPP-HIRTH K G MINI-NIMBUS C

Injuries: 1 Serious

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 16, 2020, at 1252 eastern daylight time, an experimental Schempp-Hirth K G Mini Nimbus C glider, N16MG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Groveland, Florida. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A witness described that the glider was taking off from runway 18 under aerotow when the left wing dipped and struck the ground, and the glider began to swerve to the left. The pilot released from the towplane, and the glider departed the left side of the turf runway, crossed over a paved airport road oriented parallel to the runway, and impacted an unoccupied parked pickup truck, located about 500 ft from the north end of runway 18, and about 150 ft left of the runway centerline.

The towplane pilot reported that the takeoff was performed on the east side of runway 18, and that the line up, rope hookup, and rope tensioning were normal. The winds were from the south at 12 to 15 knots. The tow pilot aborted the takeoff after he observed the glider’s release from the tow rope.

Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the center of gravity tow hook-equipped glider sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, which was crushed and separated forward of the pilot’s seat. The right wing sustained leading edge impact damage that extended aft of the wing spar, between 1 and 4 ft outboard of the wing root. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the control surfaces. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: SCHEMPP-HIRTH K G 

Registration: N16MG

Model/Series: MINI-NIMBUS C

Aircraft Category: Glider

Amateur Built: No

Operator:

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: ZPH,90 ft msl

Observation Time: 12:55 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles 

Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C /17°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3600 ft AGL

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots / , 190°

Lowest Ceiling:

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: Groveland, FL

Destination: Groveland, FL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Serious 

Latitude, Longitude: 28.408868,-81.836989 (est)