20231028020039A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Schweizer SGS 2-33A · Elmira, NY · October 28, 2023

Date: October 28, 2023 · 16:00 local
Place: Elmira, NY
Airport: Harris Hill
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N17903
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA24LA029
Reported as: Schweizer SGS 2-33A
Reported engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 435 total220 in this make and model9 in the last 90 days

N17903Registered now · Schweizer SGS 2-33BS/N 283 · Built 1973 Airframe modelSchweizer SGS 2-33B 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.

On October 28, 2023, at 1600, a 1973 Schweizer glider model SGS-2-23A operated by an instroctor pilot returned to land at Harris Hill gliderport (4NY8) in Elmira, NY. The pilot had excess altitude that could not be dissipated and which would result in a long landing. The pilot experienced a pattern too FAR out over valley with north wind, sink, and waterfall effect resulted in ability to make field. The was aircraft ground looped, and substantial damaged.

Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time, and no IFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft received major damage. The pilot and passenger was not injured, and the flight originated at Harris Hill Airport (4NY8), on October 28, 2023, at approx. 1500 EST.

Inspectors for this office inspected the aircraft on November 6, 2023, in a hangar at the Harris Hill Airport and found the aircraft substantial damaged.

As the FAA filed it

ON OCTOBER 28, 2023, AT 1600, A 1973 SCHWEIZER GLIDER MODEL SGS-2-23A OPERATED BY AN INSTROCTOR PILOT RETURNED TO LAND AT HARRIS HILL GLIDERPORT (4NY8) IN ELMIRA, NY. THE PILOT HAD EXCESS ALTITUDE THAT COULD NOT BE DISSIPATED AND WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A LONG LANDING. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PATTERN TOO FAR OUT OVER VALLEY WITH NORTH WIND, SINK, AND WATERFALL EFFECT RESULTED IN ABILITY TO MAKE FIELD. THE WAS AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED, AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED.

VISUAL METROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT HARRIS HILL AIRPORT (4NY8), ON OCTOBER 28, 2023, AT APPROX. 1500 EST.

INSPECTORS FOR THIS OFFICE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT ON NOVEMBER 6, 2023, IN A HANGAR AT THE HARRIS HILL AIRPORT AND FOUND THE AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED.

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 ERA24LA029Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportElmira, NYThe pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath for a landing on the intended runway, which resulted in an off-airport landing and impact with soft terrain.Oct 28, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N17903 · 1

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

Incident 19801115079759ILevel Off Touchdown · Elmira, NYStudent pilot made hard landing, minor damage to the aircraft.Nov 15, 1980 · Minor damage