# NTSB CHI02LA266: Schweizer SGS-126E, N126CR, Ionia, MI, August 27, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2002, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Ionia, MI
- Coordinates: 42.938056, -85.060554
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9381&lon=-85.0606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA - Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA266
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55777/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA266

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the runway end identifier light (REIL).  A factor to the accident was the REIL.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - airport facilities,runway end ident lights(reil) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The glider impacted a runway edge identifier light (REIL) while landing on a grass easement adjacent to the runway.

## Factual narrative

On August 27, 2002, at 1505 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS-126E glider, N126CR, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a runway edge identifier light (REIL) while landing on a grass easement adjacent to runway 27 at the Ionia County Airport (Y70), Ionia, Michigan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The local flight departed Y70 at an unconfirmed time and was landing at the time of the accident.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that during the landing roll the left wing impacted a REIL light, resulting in substantial damage to the glider.

The pilot did not include a written statement in his NTSB 6120.1/2 accident report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N126CR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N126CR), registered now, S/N 649 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS-126E
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (registry code 8050124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 649
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mile High Rides, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Y70, Ionia, MI
- Destination: Y70, Ionia, MN
- Airport: Y70, Ionia County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; seat: single; flight hours: 61 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: GRR, 21 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 20020827022229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020827022229A), Aug 27, 2002: Scwzer SGS126E, Ionia, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Trying to avoid other glider aircraft and personnel near the sod runway 9, the left wing struck the REIL at the thresholdof the parallel hard surface…

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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