# NTSB CEN13CA079: Schweizer SGS 2-32, N9929J, Boulder, CO, November 29, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 29, 2012, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Boulder, CO
- Coordinates: 40.063331, -105.455833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0633&lon=-105.4558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-DEN-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85703
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85703/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85703
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA079

## Probable cause

The glider pilot's inability to locate an area of thermal lift.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The towplane released the glider at an altitude of about 11,200 feet above mean sea level (msl). The glider then entered an area of lift, which increased the altitude to 14,500 msl. The pilot continued westbound encountering areas of lift and sink. The pilot reported that they were unable to find an area of lift again and the descent rate increased to over 1,000 feet per minute (fpm). The flight instructor on board took over control of the glider and turned back toward the east hoping to find the area of lift that they had encountered earlier in the flight. The flight instructor stated the lift did not materialize and they encountered sink rates of up to 1,600 fpm. The flight instructor located a field in which to land. The flight instructor maneuvered the glider to align with the field and avoid houses as the sink rate continued to be about 1,000 fpm. The left wing contacted a power line, which spun the glider around 180 degrees prior to it coming to rest about 200 feet short of the intended landing area. The glider received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider.

## Factual narrative

The glider released from the towplane at an altitude of about 11,200 feet above mean sea level (msl). The glider then entered an area of lift which increased the altitude to 14,500 msl. The pilot continued westbound encountering areas of lift and sink. The pilot reported that they were unable to find the area of lift again and the descent rate increased to over 1,000 feet per minute (fpm). The flight instructor on board took over control of the glider and turned back toward the east hoping to find the area of lift that they had encountered earlier in the flight. The flight instructor stated the lift did not materialize and they encountered sink rates of up to 1,600 fpm. The flight instructor located a field in which to land. The flight instructor maneuvered the glider to align with the field and avoid houses as the sink rate continued to be about 1,000 fpm. During the approach, the left wing contacted a powerline which spun the glider around 180 degrees prior to it coming to rest approximately 200 feet short of the intended landing area. The glider received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9929J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9929J), registered now, S/N 38 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-32
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32) (registry code 8050206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 38
- Airframe hours: 1972
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Soaring Society Of Boulder Inc
- Registered owner: Soaring Society Of Boulder Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2012
- Departed: KBDU, Boulder, CO
- Destination: KBDU, Boulder, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; last flight review November 30, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 11,715 total, 1,532 in this make and model, 1,158 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 11,410 total, 1 in this make and model, 103 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KDBU, 11 nm away

## 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 20121129025479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121129025479A), Nov 29, 2012: Schweizer SGS 2-32, Goldhill, CO, Substantial damage. On 11/29/2012 at approximately 1256 hrs. MST, N9929J, a Schweizer model SGS2-32 glider was substantially damaged after impacting terrain near Goldhill, CO. The…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85703. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Forms 6120.1 (2) (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Forms%206120.1%20(2)-Redacted.PDF

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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