# Accident 20121202027249A: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Middletown, NY, December 2, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 2, 2012, 14:54 local time
- Place: Middletown, NY
- Airport: Randall
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4256° N, 74.3883° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4256&lon=-74.3883&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5787S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5787S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (registry code 8051606, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121202027249A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT GLIDER PILOT WAS FLYING SOLO WHILE BEING OBSERVED BY HIS QUALIFIED AND CURRENT CFI, NOT IN COMMUNICATION, ON THE GROUND.THE PILOT HAD ENTERED THE AIRPORT PATTERN AND ELECTED TO EXTEND HIS DOWNWIND AND BASE LEGS TO LOSE ALTITUDE. ADDITIONALLY, HE HAD DEPLOYED HIS SPOILERS TO ASSIST IN THE LOSS OF ALTITUDE. THIS COMBINATION OF PILOT ACTIONS HAD RESULTED IN AN EXCESS LOSS OF ALTITUDE PRIOR TO TURNING FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. DURING HIS TURN TO FINAL, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED WITH THE TREE LINE APPROXIMATELY 1500 FT. FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 26; THE INTENDED RUNWAY FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE TREES, SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF THE EXTENDED, RUNWAY CENTERLINE, APPROXIMATELY 25 FT. ABOVE GROUND, IN A NOSE-UP ATTITUDE. ALL SPOILER PANELS (4), UPPER AND LOWER, WERE IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS OBVIOUS TO BOTH WING'S LEADING EDGES.

## 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 ERA13CA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA077), Dec 2, 2012: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N5787S), Middletown, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper altitude management in the landing pattern that caused the glider to impact trees 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.