Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100G accident near Truckee, California, July 23, 2008
On July 23, 2008 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100G (glider), registered N132S, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Truckee, California (Truckee-Tahoe 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A malfunction of the tow release mechanism.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2008 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Truckee, California · Truckee-Tahoe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau DG-100G · all DG-100Gs on the register
- Registration
- N132S · registry record · serial E186G152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 150 feet above ground level (agl) during a tow to altitude, the glider's tow rope release mechanism activated without the pilot's command. He lowered the nose, regained airspeed, turned left, and landed in sagebrush, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and right aileron. During the post accident investigation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was able to cause an uncommanded release of the tow rope an additional two times by tugging on it. The tow release's time in service exceeded the manufacturer's recommended replacement interval. The manufacturer's service recommendations are not regulatory or mandated unless specifically written into the operating limitations for the airplane.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Aerial tow equipment section › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 695 hours in all; 189 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2008; 12 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRK Truckee CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 4,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KTRK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N132S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX08LA242.