# NTSB ATL82DA081: Schweizer SGS-1-35, N2835H, Marion, NC, March 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1982, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Marion, NC
- Coordinates: 35.680191, -81.999191 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6802&lon=-81.9992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71580/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA081

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND THROUGH BASE TO FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT NOTED A STRONG TAILWIND. HE REPORTED THAT THE TAILWIND BLEW THE GLIDER ACROSS THE RUNWAY AND OVER THE BOUNDARY FENCE. HE ANGLED BACK TO CLEAR THE FENCE AND LAND ON THE RUNWAY WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR AND LOST ABOUT 20 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED. AT THE SAME TIME, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY TREES ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY, THE GLIDER WAS TURNED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AND RANGED FROM CALM TO GUSTY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2835H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS-1-35
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 55
- Airframe hours: 538
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Oliver V. Suddard
- Registered owner: Oliver V. Suddard
- Departed: 9A9, MARION, NC
- Destination: 9A9, MARION, NC
- Airport: 9A9, Shiftlet, runway 28, 3,340 × 180 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,877 total, 543 in this make and model, 1,754 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F

## 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 19820305007279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820305007279A), Mar 5, 1982: Scwzer SGS135, Marion, NC, Substantial damage. Dragged wing while landing glider in gusty surface wind. Glider ground-looped. Side load twisted fuselage.

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.