Piper PA-25-235B accident near Highland, Illinois, September 24, 1995
On September 24, 1995 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235B, registered N7753Z, was involved in an accident near Highland, Illinois (Highland-Winet airport). It was a personal 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
a communication misunderstanding between the tow pilot and the glider pilot. Factors related to the accident were: the tow rope becoming entangled, excessive taxispeed by the tow pilot, and the unavailability of a dispatcher.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1995 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Highland, Illinois · Highland-Winet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235B · all PA-25-235Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7753Z · registry record · serial 25-3936
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THERE WAS CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TOW PILOT AND THE GLIDER PILOTS ON THE PLAN OF WHO WAS GOING TO BE TOWED BY WHAT TOW PLANE. ONE GLIDER PILOT BEGAN RETRIEVING THE TOW ROPE USING AROUND-THE-WAIST FASHION VERSUS USING A TOW ROPE HOOK. THERE WAS CONFUSION ON THE HAND SIGNAL TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN THE TOW PILOT AND GLIDER PILOT, AND INSTEAD THE TOW PLANE INCREASED TAXI SPEED TO ABOUT 15 MPH. THE GLIDER PILOT BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE TOW ROPE AND WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND. THE SORING ASSOCIATION DID NOT HAVE A DISPATCHER PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,086 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 880 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,648 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1995; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H07
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N7753Z 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.