Schleicher ASK-13 accident near Thompsonville, Michigan, August 4, 1996
On August 4, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schleicher ASK-13 (glider), registered N11EK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thompsonville, Michigan (Thompsonville 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
an evasive maneuver necessitated by the tow plane's aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Thompsonville, Michigan · Thompsonville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-13 · all ASK-13s on the register
- Registration
- N11EK · registry record · serial 13401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that 'just after the tow plane rotated for takeoff, the pilot (of the tow plane) pulled power. The glider quickly gained on the tow plane.' The pilot did not believe that he could land behind the tow plane. 'I released (the tow cable) and turned to the right over an open field of tall weeds. I leveled off (and) made a course correction which realigned me with the runway. (I) used the altitude we had to gain as much airspeed as possible and flew across the weed field until finally settling into the tall weeds. The horizontal plane surface and the left wing were struck by rotten stumps hidden by the weeds.' The tow plane pilot said that the airplane was not developing full power and he decided to abort the takeoff. Examination of the tow plane revealed no anomalies.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,612 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1996; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,060 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7Y2 at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 3D4 Frankfort MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TVC, 23 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.