20130804017049A

Accident · Substantial damage

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

Date: August 4, 2013 · 11:23 local
Place: Erwinna, PA
Airport: Vansant
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1211S
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA13CA352
Reported as: Schweizer SGS 2-33A
Reported engine: NONE NONE
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 459 total18 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days

N1211SRegistration cancelled May 20, 2015 · Schweizer SGS 2-33AS/N 208 · Built 1971 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.

Aircraft was high on left downwind. Pilot used speed brakes to descend. When aircraft turned base, pilot retracted speed brakes. When aircraft turned final it was too low and could not make runway. Pilot attempted to land in grassy field before runway. Left wing impacted tree, causing aircraft to spin 270 degrees to left and stall. The aircraft went nose low and impacted the ground. Pilot was able to exit aircraft without assistance.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS HIGH ON LEFT DOWNWIND. PILOT USED SPEED BRAKES TO DESCEND. WHEN AIRCRAFT TURNED BASE, PILOT RETRACTED SPEED BRAKES. WHEN AIRCRAFT TURNED FINAL IT WAS TOO LOW AND COULD NOT MAKE RUNWAY. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN GRASSY FIELD BEFORE RUNWAY. LEFT WING IMPACTED TREE, CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO SPIN 270 DEGREES TO LEFT AND STALL. THE AIRCRAFT WENT NOSE LOW AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXIT AIRCRAFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.

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 ERA13CA352Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportErwinna, PAThe student pilot's improper altitude and energy management in the landing pattern which resulted in the glider impacting a tree and landing short of the runway.Aug 4, 2013 · Substantial damage