Aircraft Went Down In A Field Shortly After Release From Tow Plane

A 69-year-old resident of Tinley Park, IL southwest of Chicago was fatally injured Saturday when the glider he was piloting went down in a field in Minooka, IL.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the pilot, James M. Patton, was a former assistant fire chief in Tinley Park. He was flying with the Chicago Glider Club in Minooka last weekend.

Witnesses said that they saw one of wings of the glider "dip" shortly after it was released from the tow plane. The glider then stalled and "nose dived" into the field.

Patton's wife said that he had been a licensed pilot for at least 25 years, and began flying gliders about 10 years ago. In the past, he had flown with his granddaughter to AirVenture, where the two camped out under the wing of his Cessna.

No other details of the accident. The initial accident report from the FAA indicates that the aircraft was a PLZ Bielsko SZD55 glider of "pending" registration. It is classified as an "Experimental" aircraft in the "Racing" category.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov