NTSB Factual Report

On May 26, 2007, about 1430 Hawaiian standard time, an I.C.A.-Brasov, IS-28B2, N1052Y, collided with a parked unattended glider at Dillingham Airfield, Mokuleia, Hawaii, during a forced landing. North Shore Aircraft Leasing Company, LLC, was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and the one passenger were not injured; the glider sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Mokuleia about 1420. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 21 degrees 34.46 minutes north latitude and 158 degrees 11.50 minutes west longitude.

The glider pilot stated in a written report that he departed under tow using runway 08 with winds reported as 080 at 15 knots with gusts to 21 knots. When he was about 500 feet agl, the tow rope broke; the pilot attempted to make a 360-degree turn to return to the runway. Once the pilot had made the 180-degree turn, he realized that he would have to land downwind using runway 26. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, and as the glider slowed down, the pilot lost directional control, and it departed the runway where it struck an unattended parked glider.

The pilot stated that the glider had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting tailwind conditions and failure to maintain directional control. The failure of the tow rope during takeoff was also causal.