Lange Flugzeugbau GMBH E1 ANTARES accident near Winter Haven, Florida, October 18, 2008
On October 18, 2008 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Lange Flugzeugbau GMBH E1 ANTARES (glider), registered N4929R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Winter Haven, Florida (Gilbert Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot of the other airplane to announce his intentions prior to takeoff, resulting in a runway incursion. Contributing to the accident was the limited forward visibility due to the runway slope.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2008 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Winter Haven, Florida · Gilbert Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lange Flugzeugbau GMBH E1 ANTARES
- Registration
- N4929R · registry record · serial 33E31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was preparing his self-launching glider for a local flight at the uncontrolled airport. As he approached the hold short line for runway 11, he announced his position and intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency. He entered the runway and commenced the takeoff roll. At 40 knots, he observed another airplane taking off on runway 29 (opposite direction). He veered the glider to the right into the grass, and the landing gear struck a gopher hole. The right wing struck a runway sign and the glider came to rest. The glider pilot asked the other pilot if he heard his takeoff transmission, and the other pilot replied no, he did not have a radio in his airplane. A crown in the runway does not allow a full view of opposing traffic on runway 11/29. After the accident, the pilot reported that his glider club will post a marshaller with a radio with full view of the runway to provide an "all clear" before takeoff.
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 incursion veh/AC/person during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,250 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command; 220 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 6, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 192 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,452 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lange Flugzeugbau LE 42; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GIF Winter Haven FL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: GIF Winter Haven FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from GIF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.