# Accident 19980801026789A: Scwzer SGS134, Pensacola, FL, August 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 1998, 13:15 local time
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Airport: Costal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5004° N, 87.3708° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5004&lon=-87.3708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7631, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7631-2013-02-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer SGS 1-34 (registry code 8050146, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-34) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER SGS134
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 106 total, 9 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA218) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980801026789A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 100 FEET OFF THE GROUND, AND ATTACHED TO THE TOWER AIRPLANE, HIS CANOPY SUDDENLY OPENED. HE CLIMBED TO 200 FET, RELEASED THE TOWROPE, AND MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING.  WHILE CLEARING A WOODED AREA BEFORE THE RUNWAY, HE NOTICED THAT HIS SINK RATE WAS TOO HIGH.  HE PULLED UP ON THE STICK, BUT HIS RIGHT WINGTIP BRUSHED THE TOP OF A TREE.  THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED ABOUT 300 FEET BEFORE THE RUNWAY.                                    (-23) PILOT REPORTED HE PREFLIGHTED THE GLIDER AIRCRAFT WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING THE CANOPY FOR SECURITY. APPROXIMATELY 1315L HE TOOK OFF (UNDER TOW OF N5168T, A CHAMP-7-KCAB) FROM COASTAL AIRPORT, FL RUNWAY 36. HE STATED HIS TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL, BUT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL THE CANOPY BLEW OPEN. THIS AFFECTED HIS VISIBILITY, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE FLIGHT UNTIL REACHING 200 FEET AGL, THE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE TO SAFETLY RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER RELEASING THE TOW, HE FIRST MADE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO LIGHT WIND BEFORE TURNING RIGHT FROM A HEADING OF 180 DEGREES TO 250 FOR AN ATTEMPT TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT HIT SEVERAL TREES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GR OUND. THE SINGLE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING A BROKEN RIGHT SPAR, NOSE CONE CRACKED, TAIL AND CENTER FUSELAGE BULKED AND CRACKED, AND STRESSING T OF THE LEFT WING. PILOT IS RECOMMENDED FOR COUNSELING ON PREFLIGHT REQUIREMENTS.

## 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 MIA98LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA218), Aug 1, 1998: Schweizer SGS 1-34 (N7631), Pensacola, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper sink rate during an emergency landing resulting in impact with trees and subsequent stall and impact with the terrain.

## Other reports on N7631 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19780527012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780527012139A), May 27, 1978: Scwzer SGS126E (N7631), Fate, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot unable to find thermal lift.

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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