Lebanon Post investigating single-fatality glider crash

Troopers from the Lebanon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol are investigating a fatal glider crash. The crash occurred Aug. 30 at 1:21 p.m. at the Caesar Creek Gliderport in Wayne Township, Warren County.

The preliminary investigation revealed a 200 Schleicher Alexander GMBH & CO Ash 26 E Glider, operated by Dieter S. Schmidt, 84, Springboro, was being towed by a 1976 Piper PA-23-235 fixed-wing single-engine plane.

As Schmidt became airborne, his plane separated from the tow plane (Piper). Moments later, the Glider nosedived into the Gliderport runway.

Schmidt was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The pilot of the Piper was uninjured, and the Piper airplane was not damaged as a result of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lebanon Post, Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

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