# NTSB ATL00LA054: Schweizer SGU2-22E, N2728Z, Farmington, NC, May 7, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2000, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NC - Coordinates: 35.890766, -80.550575 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8908&lon=-80.5506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49163/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of traffic pattern altitude that resulted in an off-field landing and the subsequent collision with the ground. A factor was rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - planned approach - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis While on final approach to land, the flight instructor realized that they were too low for a safe landing on the runway. The flight instructor took the flight controls from the dual student and attempted a landing in a field short of the runway surface. The flight instructor stated that the glider touched down on the main landing gear and rolled up-slope in the emergency landing area. The glider continued up-slope, rolled over the top of the knoll, became airborne momentarily, and touched down a second time. During the second touchdown the nose skid dug into the ground and the left wing collided with the ground. No mechanical problems with the glider were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2000, at 1745 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGU2-22E glider, N2728Z, collided with the ground 100 yards short of runway 18 during an attempted landing to Berts Field in Farmington, North Carolina. The instructional flight was operated by the flight instructor under the provisions of Title14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The glider sustained substantial damage, and the flight instructor and the dual student were not injured. The local flight departed Farmington, North Carolina, at 1530. According to the flight instructor, he and the dual student were returning to Farmington for a full-stop landing when the accident occurred. While on final approach to land, the flight instructor realized that they were too low for a safe landing on the runway. The flight instructor took the flight controls from the dual student and attempted a landing in a field short of the runway surface. The flight instructor stated that the glider touched down on the main landing gear and rolled up-slope in the emergency landing area. The glider continued up-slope, rolled over the top of the knoll, became airborne momentarily, and touched down a second time. During the second touchdown, the nose skid dug into the ground and the left wing collided with the ground. No mechanical problems with the glider were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2728Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2728Z-2021-07-03), registration cancelled 2021-07-03, S/N 186, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGU2-22E - Registry model: [Schweizer SGU 2-22E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgu-2-22e) (registry code 8050612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 186 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Robin L. Schutte - Registered owner: Piedmont Soaring Society - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: NONE, Berts Field, runway 18, 2,800 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 472 total, 8 in this make and model, 407 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: INT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000507020459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000507020459A), May 7, 2000: Scwzer SGU222E, Framington, NC, Substantial damage. (.4)While on final approach to land, the flight instructor realized that they were too low for a safe landing on the runway. The flight instructor took the… ## Other investigations on N2728Z (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 DEN66D0014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66D0014), May 30, 1965: Schweizer SGU222 (N2728Z), Alamogordo, NM, substantial damage 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. --- 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.