# NTSB CHI04CA102: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N17882, Lake Village, IN, April 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 4, 2004, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Lake Village, IN - Coordinates: 41.129665, -87.455865 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1297&lon=-87.4559&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: South Bend, IN, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA102 ## Probable cause The unsuitable terrain the Certified Flight Instructor encountered during the off-field landing. The low altitude, the downdraft or "sink" experienced during flight, and the soft terrain conditions were factors to the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The glider operated by a certified flight instructor (CFI), sustained substantial damage during approach. The CFI stated that while approaching for a downwind landing, he observed that the aircraft was too low for a normal approach and landing. The CFI reported that he cut the corner and flew over a small clump of trees and on the downwind side of the trees encountered a significant sink and landed in a soft field. Upon landing the glider bounced hard and the right wingtip dug into the ground. The student pilot reported a similar sequence of events. The CFI reported no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the glider. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2004, about 1600 central daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider, N17882, operated by the Civil Air Patrol, piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI), sustained substantial damage during an off-field landing near Lake Village Indiana. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The CFI and student pilot sustained no injuries. The local flight originated from Lake Village Airport (C98), near Lake Village, Indiana, about 1555. The CFI stated: Shortly before 1600 CDT we departed Lake village Airport for a fourth flight. The takeoff and tow were routine. Approaching for another downwind landing, I observed that we were too low for a normal pattern. I cut the corner and flew over a line of trees and on the downwind side of the trees we encountered significant sink and landed in a soft sandy field. Upon landing we bounced hard and dug the right wingtip into the ground breaking many rivets and bending the wing aft. The student pilot stated: Forecast surface wind was 10 to 12 from N-NW. Actual seemed to be about 15. We had several tow pilots and tow pilot trainees along with glider pilots. Around 1430 hours I was taking instruction from [the CFI] in a glider. We had taken 3 glider rides together earlier in the day. All flights were to about 1000 AGL. ... On the fourth flight we were about 2 or 3 miles north east of the airport (C98). This was the same general area we were in the previous three flights. We performed one steep turn and one slow flight maneuver. We then started back to the airport for a landing. Our altitude seemed to be about the same as earlier flights. About 1-1/2 miles from the airport there is a tree lining running east and west that almost meets a forest that borders the north end of the airport. Just before we reached the east/west tree line we experienced a "sink" as if we went through a down draft. [The CFI] stated "looks like we may need to make an off field landing[.]" He maneuvered the glider past the trees to an open field. He landed the aircraft in the field. The ground had been plowed and was soft. The nose skid dug into the soft ground causing the aircraft to turn left dipping the right wing into the ground where we came to rest. There was damage to the right wing. [The CFI] did a good job of maneuvering the aircraft to avoid trees and obstacles. At 1604, the recorded weather at the Greater Kankakee Airport, Kankakee, Illinois, located approximately 18 nautical miles west of the accident, was: Wind 330 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 18 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 10 degrees C; dew point -3 degrees C; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury. The CFI reported no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the glider. The pilot stated, "The only recommendation would be during training and flight reviews to increase emphasis on keeping very close to the airport when at low altitudes." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17882](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17882-2012-01-11), registration cancelled 2012-01-11, S/N 252, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 2-33A - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a) (registry code 8051606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 252 - Airframe hours: 1243 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2003, 65 hours before - Departed: C98, Lake Village, IN - Destination: C98, LAKE VILLAGE, IN - Airport: C98, Lake Village ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 79; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 12, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 200 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,553 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; last flight review December 21, 2003; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: IKK ## 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 20040404012869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040404012869A), Apr 4, 2004: Scwzer SGS233A, Lake Village, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Clarence l. harris was providing glider instruction to charles m. lain at the time of accident. The glider pilot reported the aircraft experienced a high… 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.