# NTSB CEN24LA219: Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, N8667R, Chouteau, OK, June 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 8, 2024, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Chouteau, OK - Coordinates: 36.225387, -95.330057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2254&lon=-95.3301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194449/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194449 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA219 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider while landing. Contributing to the accident was the unclear communications between the student pilot and instructor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8050112), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student glider pilot reported that while conducting an approach to runway 18, he noted that another glider was staged on the runway. The student made a radio call advising that he would land on the grass between taxiway A3 and A4. The instructor on the ground radioed to the student pilot to “land short”. The student pilot stated that he interpreted the instruction to land short of his intended landing point between taxiways A2 and A3 and initiated a forward slip. The instructor radioed to clarify that he meant to land short on the runway behind the other glider. The student pilot attempted to extend his glide to make his first intended landing point between taxiways A3 and A4. He stated that he did not think he could make the A3 and A4 taxiways and extended his dive brake and spoilers to land between A2 and A3. The student pilot reported that about that time a wind gust stopped and the glider lost airspeed and developed a significant sink rate. The glider landed hard which resulted in serious injury to the student pilot and minor damage to the glider. The towplane pilot located on the runway at the taxiway A3 intersection reported that he saw the glider lose its forward motion and drop in a flat attitude to the ground. Based on the pilot and witness statement it is likely that the glider stalled while landing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8667R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8667R), registered now, S/N 63, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-23H-15 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-23h-15) (registry code 8050112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 63 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 1463 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Tulsa Skyhawks Soaring Club - Registered owner: Tulsa Skyhawks Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2024 - Departed: H71, Chouteau, OK - Destination: H71, Chouteau, OK - Airport: H71, Mid-America Industrial Airport, runway 18, 5,001 × 72 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: serious; student; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 43 total, 2 in this make and model, 9 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KGCM, 8 nm away - METAR: KGCM 081635Z AUTO 20013G19KT 10SM CLR 31/27 A2980 RMK AO2 ## 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 20240608006159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240608006159A), Jun 8, 2024: Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, Pryor, OK, Minor damage. The regional operations center was notified about an accident involving a glider that happened on June 8, 2024, around 1230 local time at mid America… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194449. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 697 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17381427&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA219%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 516 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17381083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20photographs%20CEN24LA219-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17381093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20to%20N8667R%20Hard%20landing%20on%20June%208%202024_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident diagram (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17393855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Diagram-Rel.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. --- 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.