James Robert "Jim" Gately
James Robert "Jim" Gately
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Jackson, Mississippi
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Jackson, Mississippi
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Brandon, Mississippi
Accident Number: CEN19FA211
Date & Time: July 6, 2019, 13:30 Local
Registration: N106NS
Aircraft: Grob G103
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot of the accident glider and a pilot of another glider repositioned the two gliders from one airfield to another about 6 miles east of the departure airport. The purpose of the flight was to fly two gliders to a location where they conducted their glider flights. The first glider was towed to 2,000 ft agl, southeast of the departure airport. After the glider was released, the glider pilot flew towards the other airport, and the towpilot returned for the second glider. The accident pilot stated to the towpilot that he planned to release at 3,000 ft agl. When they were about 2,100 agl, the glider pilot released from the towplane. The towpilot stated that this was in same area that the first glider released and didn't see or hear from the glider pilot again.
The pilot in the first glider reported that he heard the accident pilot state via radio that he was "getting low and would probably have to land out."
The wreckage was located in a fenced field about 2.5 miles southeast of the departure airport and about 6 miles southwest of the destination airport. The glider came to rest inverted about 150 ft beyond an oak tree located at the edge of the field. A piece of the glider's right wing skin was found in a branch of the oak tree about 25 to 30 ft above the ground. Several small branches and leaves were located on the ground beneath the branch. Additionally, there were several impact signatures on parts of the tree branch near the wing skin; the signatures on the branch and ground scars are consistent with the glider's collision with a tree before impact with terrain. Examination of the glider revealed no anomalies.
Toxicology of the pilot revealed the presence of metabolites of tetrahydrocannabinol; however, since no active compounds were found in blood, it is unlikely that any effects from his use of marijuana contributed to the accident.
The field where the glider came to rest contained several wire fences across and lengthwise to the field. It is likely that these fences were not visible to the pilot until he was committed to the landing. It could not be determined if the pilot tried to avoid the fence during the approach and landing. Given the available evidence, the pilot was attempting to obtain lift in the vicinity of the departure airport but became low and chose to conduct an off-airport landing. During the subsequent off-airport landing, the right wing impacted a tree and the glider subsequently impacted terrain.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate clearance from a tree during an attempted off-field landing.
Findings
Personnel issues (general) - Pilot
Environmental issues Tree(s) - Contributed to outcome
Environmental issues Thermal lifting - Ability to respond/compensate
Factual Information
History of Flight
Enroute-cruise Loss of lift
Landing Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)
Landing Off-field or emergency landing
On July 6, 2019, about 1330 central daylight time, a Grob G103 glider, N106NS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Brandon, Mississippi. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider was registered to and operated by the Central Mississippi Soaring Society, LLC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Woodbridge Airport (6MS1), Brandon, Mississippi, about 1315, and was en route to the Harrell Field Airport (MS08), Pisgah, Mississippi.
According to the towpilot, the purpose was to move two gliders from 6MS1 to MS08, about 6 nautical miles west of MS08, from where they hangered the gliders, to where they conducted their flights. The towpilot towed the first glider to 2,000 ft above ground level (agl) southeast of 6MS1, where the glider released from the towplane. The towpilot then returned to 6MS1 for the accident glider. The accident pilot stated to the towpilot that he planned to release at 3,000 ft agl.
The towpilot added that the second tow was slow due to the glider's weight and the high density altitude at the time but was "uneventful." At an altitude of about 2,100 ft agl, the glider released from the towplane. The towpilot stated that this was in the same area that the first glider released, and the accident pilot conducted the "normal right turn" after releasing. The towpilot reported that he did not see the accident glider or hear from the accident pilot following release.
The pilot in the first glider reported that he heard the accident pilot state over the radio that he was "getting low and would probably have to land out." The wreckage was located in a fenced field about 2.5 miles southeast of 6MS1 and about 6 miles southwest of MS08.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Private
Age: 65
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider; Helicopter
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 7419 hours (Total, all aircraft), 15.8 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Grob
Registration: N106NS
Model/Series: G103 Twin Astir
Aircraft Category: Glider
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Other
Serial Number: 3196
Landing Gear Type: Tandem
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: July 4, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner:
Rated Power:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMBO
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 13:15 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4500 ft AGL
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 320°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Brandon, MS (6MS1)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Pisgah, MS (MS08)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 13:15 Local
Type of Airspace:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 32.427501,-89.940277
The glider came to rest inverted about 150 ft beyond an oak tree located at the edge of a field. There were several wire fences across and lengthwise to the field.
A piece of the glider's right wing skin was found in a branch of the oak tree, about 25 to 30 ft up from the ground. Several small branches and leaves were located on the ground just beneath the branch. Additionally, there were several impact signatures on parts of the tree branch near the wing skin; the signatures and ground scars are consistent with the glider colliding with the tree before the impact with terrain. The glider was examined on site and all major components were accounted for at the scene.
Control continuity was established to the respective control surfaces.
No pre-impact anomalies were noted during the airframe examination.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office, Pearl, Mississippi, conducted an autopsy on the pilot. The autopsy noted the cause of death was determined to be "blunt force trauma."
The Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological testing. The specimens were not tested for cyanide. The test was negative for ethanol and carbon monoxide. The test was positive for Salicylate, Losartan and Carboxy-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and 11 hydroxy-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH), the inactive and active metabolites, respectively, of tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, were detected in urine but not in blood.
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