https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/rec.aviation.soaring

Rich Owen writes:

Seminole-Lake Gliderport sadly announces we had a fatal glider
accident today. The accident will be investigated by the FAA and NTSB, an
inspector was on the scene today. We do not want to identify the pilot but he
was flying a Standard Cirrus that he owned. He was NOT in the Senior Soaring
Championship. The accident occurred after a premature release by the pilot from
tow at about 500 feet over the end of the runway. We recovered an Oudie and Nano
(this unit was still operational) at the site and we expect it will greatly aid
in the investigation. We ask you not call the office or come to the gliderport
to view the scene. Seminole-Lake has been in the business of promoting soaring
for over 50 years and this is our first fatal accident.

I would like to say the FAA inspector and the two NTSB investigators are all top
notch professionals. They have sought out our help in getting the flight logs
downloaded. You all voiced good ideas on how to approach this investigation born
out of how you handled other accidents. In speaking with the NTSB investigators
I have passed on some of these points.

Just to pass on some facts we know right now. None of this is an opinion. The
Cirrus was stored in a hangar after it flew in the Senior Soaring Championship
with a Romanian pilot flying the ship. It was not disassembled from that time
until it flew yesterday. The mishap pilot was an experienced hang glider pilot,
SEL private pilot and had received his private glider add-on rating at
Seminole-Lake in November. The pilot purchased the glider in the same month with
the goal of being a XC pilot and eventually entering contests. He was
enthusiastic, asked tons of questions, and was very open to suggestions on how
to be a better glider pilot. He was very much part of the Seminole-Lake family.
I hope when the flight log is reviewed, and when the NTSB issues it's interim
report, we will find out how this happened. In deference to his family, we will
try not put out anything other than fact. Please honor this pilot by not
floating theories not born out by the facts. Thank you.

His services will be a private affair due to Covid-19. I will pass on all your
wishes to the family from this thread. As soon as the family approves, we will
release the pilot's name. On a brighter note, Greg Shugg's phone, text, and
email service blew up this morning wondering if he was the mishap pilot. That is
why we purposely said the pilot did not fly in the Seniors. Greg was
appreciative with the amount of care for his safety that he received.

I was thermaling over both ends of the runway on the 7th. I didn't
see any activity at the glider port at the time (between 2:25 and 2:50 PM). I
assume that he means the north end of the runway as the normal pattern is to
pull the sailplanes from the south end.