# NTSB ERA13CA077: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N5787S, Middletown, NY, December 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 2, 2012, 14:54 local (19:54 UTC) - Place: Middletown, NY - Coordinates: 41.425556, -74.388336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4256&lon=-74.3883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85742/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85742 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper altitude management in the landing pattern that caused the glider to impact trees on final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot, while on the downwind leg to runway 26, he "knew that he was too high" for a normal approach. He deployed the spoilers to full and extended the downwind leg to lose altitude. While turning onto base leg for final approach, he retracted the spoilers to one half thinking that he was still too high in the turn. The pilot stated that he flew into a pocket of air that caused the glider to sink. The pilot realized that he was going to be "quite" low and stated that he retracted the spoilers all the way in. While turning on to final approach, he clipped a tree with the left wing and the glider spun around to the left and came to rest in a tree, 25 feet above the ground. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wing leading edges incurred substantial damage due to impact with trees. Both spoilers were found in the full extended position. The student pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the student pilot, while on the downwind leg to runway 26, he "knew that he was too high" for a normal approach. He deployed the spoilers to full and extended the downwind leg to lose altitude. While turning onto base leg for final approach, he retracted the spoilers to one half thinking that he was still too high in the turn. The pilot stated that he flew into a pocket of air that caused the glider to sink. The pilot realized that he was going to be "quite" low and stated that he retracted the spoilers all the way in. While turning on to final approach, he clipped a tree with the left wing and the glider spun around to the left and came to rest in a tree, 25 feet above the ground. Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right wing leading edges incurred substantial damage due to impact with trees. Both spoilers were found in the full extended position. The student pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5787S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5787S), registered now, S/N 116, built 1968 (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: 116 - Airframe hours: 3358 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Valley Soaring Club Inc - Registered owner: Valley Soaring Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2012 - Departed: 06N, Middletown, NY - Destination: 06N, Middletown, NY - Airport: 06N, Randall Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 67; injuries: none; student; seat: front; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KMGJ, 1 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 20121202027249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121202027249A), Dec 2, 2012: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Middletown, NY, Substantial damage. Student glider pilot was flying solo while being observed by his qualified and current CFI, not in communication, on the ground. The pilot had entered the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85742. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Right wing damage. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Right%20wing%20damage.%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Left wing damage. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Left%20wing%20damage.%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Post accident tree recovery. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Post%20accident%20tree%20recovery.%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.