Engine failure and collision with terrain involving an amateur-built Bearhawk Patrol, 3 km west of Narrogin Aircraft Landing Area, Western Australia, on 1 August 2026

What happened

On 1 August 2026 at Narrogin Aircraft Landing Area (ALA), gliding operations were being conducted on runway 10/28. The tug aircraft being used to assist with launching the gliders for the day was an amateur-built Bearhawk Patrol.

During the occurrence flight, the tug aircraft took off from runway 10 with a glider tethered as per normal operations. After reaching approximately 175 ft above ground level in the initial climb, the tug aircraft’s engine failed, with the pilot confirming the loss of power with throttle movements. The tug pilot then made a radio call to the glider aircraft crew instructing them to release the towline when able as the aircraft was over trees. The glider crew was reported to have released the line and made a standard out-landing.

Due to the minimal available altitude, no further actions were conducted by the tug pilot to restart the engine as the pilot planned to make a forced landing in a nearby paddock. As the aircraft passed over a tree line just prior to the aiming point, the aircraft was reported to have suddenly dropped and collided with terrain. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft; this included damage to the right wing which blocked the pilot’s exit. The pilot subsequently exited from the shattered left window (Figure 1) and sustained serious injuries. At the time of publishing, the cause of the engine failure was not determined.

Figure 1: Accident site

Tug pilot comments 

After the occurrence, the pilot reported the tug aircraft still had the towline connected at the time of collision. They recalled that no stall had occurred prior to the collision and that it was possible the line had become caught while the aircraft passed over the tree line resulting in a sudden disruption to the aircraft’s flight path.

Gliding Australia comments

The ATSB was advised by the national body for the sport of gliding that an investigation into the sequence of events leading up to the collision with terrain was underway. At the time of publishing, the cause of the sudden disruption to flight has not yet been determined.

Safety message

An engine failure encountered shortly after take-off is a considerably challenging situation for pilots, no matter the type of operation. At a low height and slow speed, the time available for a pilot to troubleshoot the failure and prepare for a forced landing is limited. Pilots must maintain the best glide speed specific to the aircraft to ensure control is maintained.

Glider launching operations present unique challenges, particularly during an emergency. Pilots are encouraged to review emergency procedures outlined in Gliding Australia: Unit 20A Launch Emergencies (Aerotow). In this occurrence, the emergency actions of both aircraft crew reduced the risk of a more serious outcome.

About this report

Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.