Slingsby Swallow Type T.45 accident near Hutchinson, Kansas, September 2, 2007
On September 2, 2007 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Slingsby Swallow Type T.45 (glider), registered N7476, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hutchinson, Kansas (Sunflower Aerodrome Gliderport airport). It was a glider-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a low altitude release resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing factors were the pilot's decision to turn back to the airport at low altitude and the wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2007 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hutchinson, Kansas · Sunflower Aerodrome Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Slingsby Swallow Type T.45
- Registration
- N7476 · registry record · serial 1660
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider achieved flight as normal prior to rotation by the tow plane. As the glider continued along the runway there seemed to be some sort of external downward force like a wind gust. The glider wheel touched the runway and the glider bounced into the air, gaining altitude rapidly. The pilot released the glider tow line and continued straight. The pilot stated that the tow plane was not in sight and there was an impression that the tow plane may have taken off. The pilot banked the glider to the right to return to the airport. During the turn the right wing stalled and the glider lost altitude rapidly. The glider impacted terrain to the west of the runway on airport property. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by making a small right turn and landing straight ahead on the remaining runway.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 73 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SN76 Hutchinson KS at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from KHUT, 9 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.