# NTSB BFO94LA003: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N1178S, Morrisville, VT, November 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 7, 1993, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Morrisville, VT
- Location: 44.5573° N, 72.5900° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morrisville, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5573&lon=-72.5900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8863/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA003

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN SOARING WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE RIDGE AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.  A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE HIGH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT, HE WAS SOARING OVER THE MOUNTAINS.  HE STATED THAT HE WAS GAINING AND LOSING ABOUT 200 FEET OF ALTITUDE AS THE GLIDER SOARED OVER THE RIDGE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH; HOWEVER, ON THE LAST TRAVERSE THE GLIDER LOST LIFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE HIGH TERRAIN AND COLLIDED WITH TREES.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD MORE EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN SOARING.

## Factual narrative

On Sunday, November 7, 1993, at 1200 eastern standard time, N1178S, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider, owned by Peter Smyth of Morrisville, Vermont, and piloted by Allan Edwards collided with a ridge 3 miles east of the Morrisville-Stow Airport, Morrisville, Vermont.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed.  The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The local, instructional flight originated in Morrisville, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot said he was soaring over the mountain, heading north to south and gaining and losing about 200 feet of altitude as he soared.  The student pilot reported that, "on the last traverse I lost lift over a shelf and within a few seconds was down...but there was insufficient lift or momentum to turn away from the mountain."  The glider collided with trees on the side of the ridge.  The student pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and the accident could have been prevented if he had more experience in mountain soaring.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1178S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1178S), registered now, S/N 228, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33b) (registry code 8051607) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 228
- Airframe hours: 2588
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peter H Smyth
- Registered owner: Peter H Smyth
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 1993, 85 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 68 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °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 19931107042239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931107042239A), Nov 7, 1993: Scwzer SGS233A, Morrisville, VT, Substantial damage. Struck trees on ridge attempting mountain soaring. Blamed uncontrollable downdraft.

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.

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