BELLANCA 8GCBC — Byron, CA

What happened

The accident airplane was conducting a glider tow flight. Security camera video recordings of the accident sequence revealed that the tow airplane became airborne about midway down the runway and proceeded to make a shallow climb with the glider in trail at a similar altitude. After the tow airplane became airborne, the glider pitched upward and ascended to a higher altitude while the tow airplane remained in a shallow climb. Shortly afterward, the tow airplane began a shallow descent. Both aircraft then leveled off, with the glider still at a higher altitude than the tow airplane. As the glider began to descend and then ascend, the tow airplane pitched downward in a nose-low attitude, impacted the runway, and nosed over. A postimpact fire ensued. A pilot-rated witness stated that the tow airplane was at an altitude of about 100 ft above ground level at the time that the glider began to ascend after descending.

The pilot of the glider reported that, shortly after takeoff, the canopy began opening and closing rapidly. The glider pilot also reported that, as he attempted to secure the canopy while maintaining control of the glider, he became briefly disoriented. The glider pilot turned back toward the airport and saw that the tow airplane had crashed. The glider landed uneventfully.

The glider pilot stated that part of his preflight check was to ensure that the canopy was closed and locked. Postaccident examination found no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction with the glider canopy latching mechanism. It is likely that the pilot did not successfully lock the canopy before takeoff.

The open canopy likely distracted the glider pilot, and he allowed the glider to ascend to an excessive altitude behind the tow airplane, which forced the tow airplane into a nose-down attitude while at a low altitude.

Postaccident examination of the tow airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. The tow rope-cutting mechanism was engaged; thus, the tow pilot likely cut the tow rope at some point during the flight. (The tow rope was located about 80 ft beyond the main wreckage of the tow airplane in the grassy area adjacent to the runway.) However, the airplane was at an altitude that precluded recovery from the nose-down pitching moment that was induced by the high altitude of the glider.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.