# Accident 20020720027489A: Scwzer SGS126B, New Douglas, IL, July 20, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2002, 15:00 local time
- Place: New Douglas, IL
- Airport: Silver Creek Gliderport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9253° N, 89.6622° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9253&lon=-89.6622&mi=10
- Aircraft: N111HK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER SGS126B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02CA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA201) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020720027489A

## Narrative

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

(-23) MR. MARY WAS ON HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT OF THE DAY WHEN HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN A LITTLE HIGH AND CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY. HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY AND EXTENDED SPOILERS UNTIL ON VERY SHORT FINAL. HE ESTABLISHED A VERY LOW FINAL APPROACH PATH, BUT ONE THAT WOULD HAVE YIELDED A NORMAL TOUCHDOWN. APPROXIMATELY 200' FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 18, THE TIP OF HIS LEFT WING STRUCK THE VERY TOP OF A 25' POWER POLE. THE GLIDER YAWED 60 DEGREES LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING LOW APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM THE POLE. IT BOUNCED ONCE AND CAME TO REST IN A FIELD OF WEEDS. THE PILOT WAS NOT HURT OTHER THAN BEING VERY SORE. THE LEFT WINGTIP WAS SHREDDED AND THE LEFT WING FAILED JUST INBOARD OF THE AILERON--IT WAS BENT BACK LIKE A SWEPT WING. THE NOSE IMPACTED A SMALL MOUND OF GRAVEL RESULTING IN TWO BIG ROUND DENTS. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 WAY BETWEEN TRAILING EDGE AND TAIL, THE FUSELAGE WAS CRUMPLED LIKE A TWISTED ALUMINUM CAN. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION BY GLIDER CLUB MEMBERS DISCLOSED THAT THE G-METER READ 9.5 AND THAT SIX RIVETS IN THE SEAT PAN HAD BEEN POPPED. THE CLUB PRESIDENT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSIDERED DESTROYED.

## 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 CHI02CA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA201), Jul 20, 2002: Schweizer 1-26B (N111HK), New Douglas, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The probable cause of this accident was a failure to maintain the proper glide path and sufficient obstacle clearance while on final approach.

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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