# Accident 19971013031199A: Scwzer SGS126A, Fairfield, PA, October 13, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 13, 1997, 17:30 local time
- Place: Fairfield, PA
- Airport: Mid Atlantic Soaring Center
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7799° N, 77.3605° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7799&lon=-77.3605&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1154N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1154N-2013-04-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer SGS 1-26A (registry code 8050116, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER SGS126A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 686 total, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971013031199A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT WAS TAKING GLIDER FOR A CHECK RIDE AFTER REPAIRS AND CRASHED INTO GROUND, FAIRFIELD, PA. (.4) BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT INSTALLED THE WINGS AND TAIL ON THE GLIDER. DURING THE TAKEOFF, JUST AFTER THE GLIDER BECAME AIRBORNE, IT PITCHED UP VERTICALLY.  AFTER THE TOW ROPE WAS RELEASED THE NOSE DROPPED, AND THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED  FABRIC RECOVERING REPAIR TO THE GLIDER'S FUSELAGE AND REPLACED THE ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLES.  EXAMINATION OF THE GLIDER REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL CABLES WERE RIGGED IN REVERSE AND THE ELEVATOR CONTROL HORN LOCATED IN THE AFT END OF THE FUSELAGE WAS INSTALLED INVERTED FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION.  ABOUT 8 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC WITH INSPECTOR AUTHORIZATION PERFORMED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED A STATEMENT, 'AC ASSEMBLED AND RIGGED.'  AT THAT TIME, THE COMPLETE ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT INSTALLED.  THE PILOT COMPLETED THE ELEVATOR INSTALLATION AFTER THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.  PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ASKED BY A WITNESS IF HE HAD PERFORMED A 'POSITIVE CONTROL CHECK' OF THE PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROLS, WHICH THE PILOT STATED 'YES.'

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC98LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA011), Oct 13, 1997: Schweizer SGS1-26A (N1154N), Fairfield, PA, minor damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the elevator cables and elevator control bell-crank by the pilot, and an inadequate annual inspection by the mechanic. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight of…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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