Piper PA 25-235 accident near Saratoga Springs, New York, April 22, 2018
On April 22, 2018 at about 5:12 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA 25-235, registered N7247Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Saratoga Springs, New York (Saratoga County airport). It was a glider-towing 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
The glider pilot’s failure to maintain pitch during a CG aerotow, which resulted in the loss of control of the tow airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2018 · about 5:12 pm local time
- Place
- Saratoga Springs, New York · Saratoga County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 25-235 NO SERIES, built 1965 · all PA 25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N7247Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-3176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tow plane pilot reported that, during takeoff for a glider tow, about 20 to 30 ft above ground, the airplane lurched forward and pitched nose down. He added that he pushed the tow line release mechanism forward, but it did not feel as if the tow line released. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, exited the runway, struck a runway light and runway sign, and ground looped. The pilot of the glider being towed reported that, during takeoff, the glider became airborne and abruptly pitched into a steep, nose-high attitude, and he had lost sight of the tow airplane. He released the tow rope, maintained level flight attitude about 150 ft above ground, and landed on the grass adjacent to the runway without further incident. The glider pilot reported in a follow up telephone conversation that the glider used a center of gravity (CG) hook set up for the glider tow. The tow airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the tow airplane and glider reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane and glider that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration's Glider Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-13A, contains a section titled "CG Hooks" which states: A CG hook, as compared to a nose hook, makes a crosswind takeoff more difficult since the glider can weathervane into the wind more easily. In addition, a CG hook makes the glider more susceptible to kiting on takeoff, especially if the CG is near the aft limit. This can present a serious danger to the towplane during the aerotow. It also contains a section titled "Aerotow Takeoff Procedures" which states: One of the most dangerous occurrences during aerotow is allowing the glider to fly high above and losing sight of the towplane. The tension on the towline caused by the glider pulls the towplane tail up, lowering its nose. If the glider continues to rise, pulling the towplane tail higher, the tow pilot may not be able to raise the nose. Ultimately, the tow pilot may run out of up elevator authority.
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
- Glider tow event during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,746 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 2,448 as pilot in command; 1,585 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 21, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,517.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5(C) (piston); 814 hours total
- Operator: Adirondack Soaring Association INC
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 Saratoga Springs NY at 5:12 pm
- Destination: 5B2 Saratoga Springs NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from KSCH, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 13, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Tow Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Glider Piliot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - Glider Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7247Z 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.