Schempp-Hirth Discus-CS accident near Freehold, New York, July 1, 2007
On July 1, 2007 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth Discus-CS (glider), registered N42CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freehold, New York (Freehold airport). It was a glider-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent activation of the tow release handle at a low altitude following an encounter with turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2007 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Freehold, New York · Freehold · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth Discus-CS · all Discus-CSs on the register
- Registration
- N42CA · registry record · serial 239CS
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the takeoff was normal. His glider and the tow plane were on the initial climb out. During the climb they began to encounter heavy turbulence. At 200 feet AGL he continued to encounter heavy turbulence and bumped his head twice against the canopy. He inadvertently hit the release cable handle at a low altitude, and disconnected from the tow plane. He attempted to return to the airport and collided with trees after losing lift. The pilot did not report any flight control anomalies with the glider.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 409 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1I5 Freehold NY at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 1I5 Freehold NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,275 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from KALB, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.