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Subscribe to RSSFederal investigators are trying to determine what led to the crash of a glider that killed three people, including a 3-year-old boy, in southeast Texas.
The accident happened about 5 p.m. Sunday near the GHSA-Wallis Glideport Gliderport near Wallis, about 40 miles west of Houston, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said. The aircraft crashed nose-first into the ground after being towed airborne and released.
The three killed were Fred Blair, 68, of Wallis, and Matilda Blair, 32, and 3-year-old Andrew Blair of Houston, according to The Houston Chronicle.
An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board was on scene Monday gathering facts and examining the wreckage, said Keith Holloway, an NTSB spokesman in Washington.
Federal records show the Romanian I.C.A-Brasov glider was registered to the Greater Houston Soaring Association, a group of local glider enthusiasts who fly on weekends and holidays from the GHSA Glideport.
A glider is an engine-less aircraft that flies by riding air currents. It is launched by a separate aircraft, which tows it 2,000 feet into the sky and then releases it to soar.
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Best wishes to the surviving families.
Sadly, the names and ages indicate three generations of one family. Tragic.
I have been up in a Glider before. It was scary and exhilerating at the same time. I am very sorry for the loss.
Really tough when something that is supposed to be a fun family experience turns tragic. My condolences.
The pilot foolishly forgot to remove the tail dolly, and even more foolishly had 3 people in a two-seater.
must have been some type of mechanical failure...i have been up in a glider...so peaceful....sorry for the familys loss on a fun outing together.
Why would you take a toddler in such a dangerious machine? Crazy
Please don't judge the family that way. Unfortunately, accidents can happen at any time, to any of us, and in any "machine". Would you have posted that if the family was suffering the tragedy as a result from an automobile accident - the most "dangerous machine" of all?
Sauchey - you can go on and on about how it's safer to fly than to drive, but the fact of the matter is that more can go wrong with an aircraft that has no engine. Whoever decided to take a toddler along used poor judgement. Period.
Actually, less can go wrong with it. The engine cant fail, wheels cant break off, wings cant ice up, controls can't break. As they always have said, Simple is better.
Sauchy - "Would you have posted that if the family was suffering the tragedy as a result from an automobile accident"
No, because putting a child in an automobile is often necessary for transportation, this was totally unnecessary. That is why they will be judged, which everyone has the right to do. Poor judgment does not get to be excused simply because it was so poor that it resulted in death.
scales67 please keep your incorrect assumptions to yourself.
Gliders have fewer "things" that can go wrong than a plane with an engine.
Gliders are designed to fly without an engine thus any and all things related to the "engine" don't matter in a glider. Thus they are probably several hundred fewer parts in a glider than a plane to go "wrong".
Airplanes with engine need that engine or they become a rock, so how is that safer?
Just looking at numbers as to how many people fly and die vs drive and die its obvious to anyone the flying is safer statistically. The real problem is that air accidents usually have much higher number of fatalities per accident than cars, trucks, etc.
Also yes its true when a car has a problem you just pull over, not quite as easy for planes.
You all respond to this like it was some sort of ride at the fair, but its not. There needs to be a licensed pilot flying a glider just like a plane so the idea that taking a toddler along as poor judgement is baseless and clueless.
Siestasis and Scales- Enlighten us with your grand wisdom, tell us of of ALL the things that can go wrong versus a car? Surely you have some experience that backs up your statements?
Driving has far more things that can go wrong that are potentially fatal- Tires pop/go flat at freeway speeds, traffic signals/signs can be missed, congestion/other cars near you means that any one of 500 other drivers mistakes can kill you...
Grow up, accidents happen. Gliders, airplanes, they're fine and less dangerous than cars but again accidents WILL happen. It's risky just waking up in the morning... Stop living in fear.
In a lot of cities young people are in more danger sitting on their front porch than than that child was in the glider.
What about a young child sitting in a glider on the front porch of a Chicago gang block? All of you have issues and can rationalize anything to go your way for a moment...........
There were 32,885 deaths due to automobile accidents in 2010. Why would people put toddlers in cars?
First, you know nothing about the pilot's safety record. The oldster at the stick had probably forgotten more about flying than you will ever learn. So, back off.
Secondly, life is a terminal disease folks. Can't hide in under your bed forever. This ain't no dressed rehearsal. Chill out and enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Condolences with the remaining family members. I have a 1 yr old and would not take him in a glider. And this is not because of the freak chance of an accident happening, but I just don't think a toddler should be in a glider.
I wish people would stop comparing the accidents of planes and cars. Put 500 planes in the air at the same time in the same area and you are going to have more accidents. The fact of the matter is that there are more cars that can cause more accidents. Simple physics says that the more objects you have moving in a container, the more collisions that occur.
I'm on your side of the arguement; however, what you said there is innacurate. Planes with engines do not become rocks. Ask Sully (who, btw, had a glider rating) how he landed an airbus in the Hudson. Had he been closer to an airport (or had been flying higher at the time of the failure), we would have uneventfully landed the plane on a runway.
The fact that I can type this today is testament to the fact that airplanes with engines glide just fine. I lost an engine on takeoff a while back and landed the plane back on the runway. Not a wrinkle on the plane.
matt,
What you said is accurate but irrelevant. The original poster's assumption is that the glider is an inherently dangerous machine - which it is not.
Sometime you just gotta chuck things up to @!$%# HAPPENS!
It is not irrelevant.. I was posting in response to everyone else saying cars are more dangerous. The simple fact of the matter is what you said.. Life Happens.
People take their toddlers in dangerous machines every day. Only difference is, this one was in the air and the other one is on the road. Riding in a vehicle is can be just as dangerous and is the #1 killer of American children. Guess all parents should just leave their small children home wrapped in bubble wrap at all times.
@Siestasis, my thought too! condolences to the family, but taking a 3 year old was a stupid idea
That was my initial reaction, but then I considered a few things.... The glider safety record all over the United States is excellent. On the way to taking a toddler to the state fair or Six Flags, the chance of you getting hit by a drunk driver or some texting twit is much, much greater than having an accident while in a glider.
Looks like three generations were involved here, so very sad for the family.
Perfectly said.
Too sad.
How awful. But way too dangerous for a 3 year old in my opinion.
Murder/Suicide?
totally.......
Hmmm.....more than a possibility, I think! My condolences to family. Poor, poor baby! I always felt it was my responsibility to keep my young children away from risk. My job to get them to adulthood safely. I will never understand people putting little ones in risky situations.
WTF NO not Murder/suicide ACCIDENT.
and you know this because...?
Comments about the danger seem to be from people who have never flown before, much less in a glider. Gliders are no more dangerous than flying in a regular airliner. In fact much more safer! it is designed to land at a much lower groundspeed, as well as being designed to fly well with no engine! A commercial airline that has lost engine power flies like a brick.
Statistically, the child was in greater danger on the highway being driven to the glider port.
Kudos...there is no valid argument to suggest a glider is anymore dangerous of a machine than the auto that got them to the airport; even calling it a machine is a bit of a stretch.
Jim... well put. Gliders are very safe compared to traditional airplanes. And the ride is absolutely fantastic.
I would suspect a medical issue with the pilot, of course that's making the assumption the 68yo gentleman was in fact the pilot.
Regardless, my very sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims.
You have less odds of dying while skydiving too. Doesn't mean I am going to strap a parachute to my toddler and throw him out of a plane. Traveling by vehicles is a necessity. Having your toddler participate in an adrenaline seeking sport is not.
jim - "Comments about the danger seem to be from people who have never flown before"
Comments defending putting a 3 year old in any TOTALLY UNNECESSARY situation where they are soaring through the air seem to be from people who have never had a 3 year old.
P.S.
"Gliders are no more dangerous than flying in a regular airliner. In fact much more safer!"
Total B.S.; small non-commercial aircraft, including gliders, have always had proportionally higher accident rates and always will.
@mom2five, my thoughts exactly!!!!
My sincere condolences to the remaining family members but this seems to be an activity for an adrenaline junky...Would you put your child on the back of a motorcycle, strap a bungee cord to their waist or go zip lining because it's fun??
Riding in an automobile is necessary for everyday life, one could even argue the same about flying commercially. I can't see how going up in a glider was necessary for a 3 year old...call me over protective but I attempt to keep my child as safe as possible, there are too many horror stories and bad strokes of luck in this world. I couldn't risk putting my child on the receiving end of one of the two.
Taking your child to the beach... Unnecessary! Let them read about it!
Taking your child to an amusement park... Unnecessary! There's plenty of amusement at home!
Taking your child to the store... Unnecessary! Get a babysitter and go yourself! Why are you putting your child in harm's way for groceries?!
Soylent, Dumb reply from someone who prolly doesn't have kids. ot had the wife do everything.
Having a child .... Unnecessary, since there is so much violence in this world.
See I can make up a statement too.
Condolences with the remaining family members. I have a 1 yr old and would not take him in a glider. And this is not because of the freak chance of an accident happening, but I just don't think a toddler should be in a glider.
I wish people would stop comparing the accidents of planes and cars. Put 500 planes in the air at the same time in the same area and you are going to have more accidents. The fact of the matter is that there are more cars that can cause more accidents. Simple physics says that the more objects you have moving in a container, the more collisions that occur.
Jim Burrill. You said the child was in greater danger on the way to the airport.Well the child is DEAD because it was in a GLIDER!!
68 yo pilot? Could have been a stroke or heart attack.
The I.C.A-Brasov looks like a typical tandem 2-seat glider. If so there should not have been 3 passengers in it. I wonder if the glider was unbalanced or overloaded? Thoughts and best wishes for the victims families.
Unlikely unless the 3yo and mom were a porkers. Weight and balance calcs for a lot of GA planes were originally based on the average 170lb male (back when we were all skinnier). An average size woman is what? 120-130? Toddler? 30-40? I'd say the rear seat had room to spare.
My $.02
My first thought was some type of weight inbalance.
dont care that the adults are dead but come on why the hell would you take a 3 year old on a glider?? STUPID!!!!
To all those who stated "Why would you take a toddler ....", get real (aside from those in which sarcasm was intended)!! Would you say the same thing if this was a car, bus, train crash etc? NO!! In life, accidents do happen and as we know driving is far more dangerous than flying. I wouldn't be surpised to hear these people had taken many flights previously without issue. Thus, why would they think this one to be any different?
Again, in life accidents do happen even with the best intensions in place. It is especially sad when a young child is involved. Thus, aside from second guessing the decisions made the only vialbe comment to be made is condolences to the family for their loss.
First of all, gliders are not just "an airplane without an engine" because they're totally designed with a high glide ratio. (Around 45:1 to 70:1 compared to a powered plane's 12:1 or less) That's why the extremely long wingspan etc. They're much safer than an ultralight, which can be pretty much a large kite with an engine strapped on. (A sailplane has an enclosed airframe much like any powered aircraft)
Even at that, I also have a problem with a toddler aboard. In a powered airplane, you can either buzz around close to the airport for fun, but very UNLIKE a glider, a powered 'plane can go from point A to B, and sometimes for hundreds of miles. Having a toddler or infant aboard a powered aircraft is really no different than taking one along in a car if you're traveling.
But, a glider is a purely recreational 'plane, and seldom go anywhere but at or around the airport. You have to continually find thermals to stay aloft, and if you get too far away from the airport and run out of air, (altitude) you have to set it down somewhere. I have a friend who owns a Schweizer 2 seater, and he's (so far) put her down in farm fields twice because he couldn't make it back. You don't fly cross country in a glider (or sailplane) anymore than you would head off cross country for extended flights in an ultralight or hang-glider.
Taking a toddler or infant in a glider is about like in a hot air balloon, the risk factor is too high to make sense. Take along a child able to actually appreciate a flight, maybe. (6, 8, 10 years old?)
Hey Craig:
Give us all a break already.
You need a life.
Sure a lot of misinformation here. Some facts...
Very few sailplanes exceed 45:1 glide ratio. If it was an IS-28 Lark the glide ratio is 35:1
Power planes fly just fine with the engine shut down, they just do not match sailplane performance.
Sailplanes frequently leave the environs of the airport and fly cross country. Virtually all sailplane competitions involve speed and or distance flown.
Not all gliders are sailplanes and not all gliders are fully enclosed.
Ultralights do fly cross country. I have flown one more than 1000 nm on a trip.
All aircraft have to land when out of altitude...whether a crash or not is another matter.
How do you know a 3 year old doesn't appreciate the glider? My 1 year old loves riding in his car. I would say he appreciates riding in it and enjoys it. Yes you could say he just likes being pushed in it..but how do you know he doesn't appreciate the wind in his face, the smell of grass, the sounds of birds, etc..??
Going to guess the pilot became incapacitated.
Wonder if modern gliders have any safety avionics to auto-guide it to feather glide down if dangerous situation detected?
Just reading the description of the accident, it sounds like a typical stall when the hook was loosened from the towing plane. How many airplane accidents happened with this simple case of an error is MANY. It doesn't matter whether it is a glider, a small powered aircraft or a 747. All are subject to stalling in mid-air. It's a simple law of physics.
1) It doesn't fly, it "glides"
2) Air currents have nothing to do with their ability to glide although an updraft can extend a glide.
Geez what a shock. Didn't see THAT coming. A glider? No engine? If the adults are that stupid, fine - the poor child probably had more sense than the two put together - but didn't have a chance.
Does the fact that not 1 person actually know's what happened cross anyones mind?
It's an accident, wait for evidence before saying it's a, "murder/suicide" or any other thought up scenario..
I would not put a 3 year old in a glider. Then again, I'm not a glider pilot.
I certainly wouldn't have made this decision for a 3 year old. Seems an unnecessary risk. We have had so many ultralights crash in our area. A whole company went out of business around here due to liability issues associated with lightweight craft. It is like sending a kid up in a hot air balloon. This is a very unregulated field and has an extremely high death rate associated with it. Unfortunately, many people don't realize that.
who's fricking idea was it to take a toddler up in a glider? oh, nevermind, it's texas.
good ole google. i found this:
Looking at the NTSB data for calendar years 2004 through 2006 inclusive indicates:
Airplane fatal accidents 1,092
Airplane non-fatal accidents 3,656
23.0% of airplane accidents involve fatals
Glider fatal accidents 16
Glider non-fatal accidents 75 17.6% of glider accidents involve fatals
there were no stats for the #of glider flights vs the #of airplane flights, but i'm going to guess that there were more than 68 times as many airplane flights than glider flights. (there were 68 times as many plane fatals as glider fatals: 1092/16= 68.25) so i suspect gliders are somewhat more dangerous than gliders. for a variety of reasons, gliders are safer than airplanes but the lack of power to get out of a problem works against you.
airplanes provide a transportation benefit, gliders are pure pleasure and therefore not a risk vs benefit issue. the risk is taken for pleasure. of course sometimes we just take our cars out for a pleasure drive with no transportation benefit involved. and parents take their toddlers with them on those drives. however, the toddler doesn't enjoy the drive, just enjoys going with the family. leaving the toddler at home often means no one goes.
however with a glider, a toddler would likely get little enjoyment from the flight, it's purely a pleasure thing, and the toddler wouldn't get much of that. a 7 year old would more likely enjoy and remember. at a certain age you let the child go up.
seems to me like a pointless risk to expose a toddler to, with minimal benefit.
oops
i suspect gliders are somewhat more dangerous than aiplanes
Probably safer than leaving the kid with a sitter.