20130504007869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Erwinna, PA · May 4, 2013

Date: May 4, 2013 · 13:30 local
Place: Erwinna, PA
Airport: Van Sant
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2045T
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA13LA229
Reported as: Schweizer SGS 2-33A
Reported engine: NONE NONE
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor

N2045TRegistration cancelled Sep 16, 2023 · Schweizer SGS 2-33AS/N 475 · Built 1977 Airframe modelSchweizer SGS 2-33A Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot departed Van Sant Airport (9N1) in a glider N2045T owned by the civil air patrol. The glider had just been annualed and this was the first flight.

Pilot performed a pre flight and found no issues with the glider. The pilot departed runway 7 at Van Sant Airport behind the tow plane.

Upon lift off the pilot of the tow plane noticed that the glider was flying in a erratic manner.

The pilot of the glider released from the tow plane and started a turn toward the airport. The pilot when he released from the tow plane was about 250 ft above the ground. The pilot when turning a base leg toward the airport hit a tree and lost control of the glider and impacted the ground.

Under investigation for possible FAR violation.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED VAN SANT AIRPORT (9N1) IN A GLIDER N2045T OWNED BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL. THE GLIDER HAD JUST BEEN ANNUALED AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT.

PILOT PERFORMED A PRE FLIGHT AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE GLIDER. THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 7 AT VAN SANT AIRPORT BEHIND THE TOW PLANE.

UPON LIFT OFF THE PILOT OF THE TOW PLANE NOTICED THAT THE GLIDER WAS FLYING IN A ERRATIC MANNER.

THE PILOT OF THE GLIDER RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE AND STARTED A TURN TOWARD THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WHEN HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE WAS ABOUT 250 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT WHEN TURNING A BASE LEG TOWARD THE AIRPORT HIT A TREE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE GLIDER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.

UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE FAR VIOLATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA13LA229Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportErwinna, PAThe pilot’s loss of glider control due to improper rigging of the rudder control cables, the mechanic’s inadequate flight control checks following the glider’s most recent annual inspection, and the pilot’s failure to perform a thorough preflight inspection.May 4, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2045T · 1

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

Accident 19820417035919AFinal Approach · Colorado Spring, COGlider crashed into trees short of runway, pilot misjudged effect of wind.Apr 17, 1982 · Substantial damage