# NTSB CHI83LA179: Schweizer SGU 2-22E, N173JS, Cadiz, OH, April 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1983, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Cadiz, OH
- Coordinates: 40.259971, -80.989204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2600&lon=-80.9892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12143
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12143/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA179

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airport/facilities - uphill (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - radio communications - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - identification of aircraft visually - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - spoiler extension - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spoiler retraction - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT HAD SPIRALED DOWN ON BASE TO FINAL APPROACH INSTEAD OF ENTERING A DOWNWIND LEG AS BRIEFED. AS THE STUDENT TURNED ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 31, HE SAW AN AIRCRAFT THAT HAD DEPARTED RUNWAY 13 AND THOUGHT A HAZARD EXISTED. WITNESSES REPORTED THERE WAS NO HAZARD. THE STUDENT WAS HIGH ON FINAL, BUT TOO LOW FOR A 360 DEGREE TURN. HE NOSED THE GLIDER OVER AND USED SPOILERS, BUT DURING LEVELOFF, HE RETRACTED THE SPOILERS. THE GLIDER BOUNCED AND RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DIRT BANK. THE DIRT BANK HAD BEEN MADE BY A COAL COMPANY AND HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 10-12 YEARS.ATTEMPTS BY THE AIRPORT AUTHORITIES TO HAVE THE DIRT HAZARD REMOVED HAD BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. REPORTEDLY, RUNWAY 31 SLOPED UPHILL WITH A 70 FT INCLINE OVER ITS LENGTH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N173JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N173JS), registered now, S/N 173 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGU 2-22E
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGU 2-22E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgu-2-22e) (registry code 8050612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 173
- Airframe hours: 1601
- Engines: none N/A unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harrison County Glider Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1982, 82 hours before
- Airport: 8G6, Harrison County, runway 31, 4,378 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 53 total, 8 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft unknown

## 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 19830423015149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830423015149A), Apr 23, 1983: Scwzer SGU222E, Cadiz, OH, Substantial damage. Student glider pilot overshot landing, glider crashed into hill at end of runway.

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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