# Accident 20180505004709A: Schweizer SGS 1-26E, North Springfei, VT, May 5, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2018, 12:50 local time
- Place: North Springfei, VT
- Airport: Hartness State Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3436° N, 72.5172° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3436&lon=-72.5172&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17909, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17909) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer SGS 1-26E (registry code 8050124, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26E
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 48 total, 40 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA263) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180505004709A

## Narrative

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

THE FLIGHT WAS LAUNCHED ABOUT 12:30 ON SATURDAY,MAY 5,2018 FROM RUNWAY 29 HARTNESS NORTHFEILD VERMONT AIRPORT (KVSF),WITH THE GLIDER BEING RELEASED FROM THE TOWPLANE AT 2300 ABOVE GROUNR LEVEL(AGL).WINDS WERE 10 MPH GUSTING TO 18 WITH SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 8000 FEET. THE PILOT WAS FLYING IN THE UPWIND QUADRANT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT.THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ROBUST THERMALS WHICH ALLOWED MUCH OF THE FLIGHT TO BE OVER 4000 FEET(AGL).IN THE LAST MINUTES OF THE 90 MINUTE FLIGHT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT WITH A CUMULUS(MAKER CLOUD) WHICH WAS ABOUT SIX MILES FROM THE AIRPORT.AN ASSOCIATED DOWNFLOW FROM THE THERMAL ACTIVITY OF THE CUMULUS CLOUD RESULTED IN THE GLIDER DESCENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET. THE PILOT STATED "THE SINKING AIR HAD TO BE RETRACED WITHOUT ANY OTHER USEFUL LIFT AVAILIBLE". THE PILOT THEN ABANDONED HIS ATTEMPT FOR LIFT AND MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO TRY AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. WITH VIRTUALLY NO LIFT THE PILOT SELECTED A LANDABLE FIELD ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH TREE TOPS BEFORE LANDING IN THE FIELD WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPING OVER. PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR LACERATIONS TO HIS HEAD AND HANDS. PILOT WAS TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL AERA HOSPITAL FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THE AIRCRAFT DID SUSTAIN DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, VERTICAL STABILIZER, NOSE CONE, AND CANOPY.

## 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 GAA18CA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA263), May 5, 2018: Schweizer SGS 1 26 (N17909), Springfield, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain sufficient altitude after the glider encountered downdrafts during the approach, which resulted in the glider striking trees.

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.