Hoac-Austria HK 36R Super Dimona accident near Highland, Illinois, April 28, 2010
On April 28, 2010 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Hoac-Austria HK 36R Super Dimona (glider), registered N400HK, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Highland, Illinois (Highland-Winet Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his delayed aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2010 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Highland, Illinois · Highland-Winet Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hoac-Austria HK 36R Super Dimona
- Registration
- N400HK · registry record · serial 36400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting a takeoff when the powered glider's acceleration seemed slower than normal. The pilot attributed the slower acceleration to the soft turf of the runway. He stated that the glider was unable to attain takeoff speed and that he made his decision to abort the takeoff too late. The glider then overran the runway and ground-looped when it hit a ditch. The glider sustained substantial damage, which included structural damage to the fuselage in the areas between the cabin and empennage and the left landing gear strut. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot's last flight review was not current and was reported as having been last completed on September 6, 2008.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,223 hours in all; 95 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 6, 2008
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,504 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,698 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H07 Highland IL at 9:10 pm
- Destination: St. Jacob IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,692 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from BLV, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N400HK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.