# Accident 20180513007149A: Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, Turnbridge, VT, May 13, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2018, 15:36 local time
- Place: Turnbridge, VT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.8958° N, 72.4400° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8958&lon=-72.4400&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9915J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9915J-2020-10-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 (registry code 8050112, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-23h-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-23H-15
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 114 total, 38 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA283) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180513007149A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT GLIDER PILOT DEPARTED THE POST MILLS AIRPORT (2B9) FOR A GLIDER FLIGHT. AS HE WAS RETURNING BACK TO POST MILLS AIRPORT IN THE AREA OF TUNBRIDGE, VT (WEST OF POST MILLS) STUDENT PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ENOUGH LIFT TO CROSS A SECTION OF FOREST BETWEEN HIS LOCATION AND THE DESTINATION AIRPORT (POST MILLS). CONSERVING HIS ALTITUDE HE SELECTED A FIELD AND ENTERED A LANDING PATTERN, NEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TOWARDS (FINAL) THE SELECTED LANDING SITE HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT CLEAR A ROW OF TREES, THE STUDENT PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD AND HE LANDED IN A MUCH SMALLER CLEARING, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER.

## 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 GAA18CA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA283), May 13, 2018: Schweizer SGS123 (N9915J), Tunbridge, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student glider’s inability to maintain altitude due to a loss of thermal lift, which resulted in an off-airport landing.

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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