# NTSB ERA14CA274: Schweizer SGS 1 34, N7638, Middletown, NY, June 1, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2014, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Middletown, NY
- Coordinates: 41.431945, -74.39167 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4319&lon=-74.3917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89335
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89335/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89335
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA274

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8050146), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-34, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8050146), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=8050146), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8050146), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, she flew the glider into the landing pattern and checked the airbrakes. She lined the glider up to land on the grass runway, but landed close to its right side where other aircraft were parked. Upon touchdown, the glider bounced. The pilot added left stick and rudder, but the glider veered to the right and hit an airplane parked off side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the glider's right wing. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, she flew the glider into the landing pattern and checked the airbrakes. She lined the glider up to land on the grass runway, but landed close to its right side where other aircraft were parked. Upon touchdown, the glider bounced. The pilot added left stick and rudder, but the glider veered to the right and hit an airplane parked off side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the glider's right wing. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7638](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7638), registered now, S/N 18, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1 34
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-34](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-34) (registry code 8050146) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 18
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 2176
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Valley Soaring Club Inc
- Registered owner: Valley Soaring Club Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2013
- Departed: 06N, Middletown, NY
- Destination: 06N, Middletown, NY
- Airport: 06N, Randall Airport, runway 8, 2,811 × 90 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; last flight review October 7, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 87 total, 1 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg

## 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 20140601007021A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140601007021A), Jun 1, 2014: Schweizer SGS 1-34, Middletown, NY, Substantial damage. On 06/01/2014, N7638, a Schweizer sgs 1-34 glider, was landing at the Randall Airport (06N) in the grass, beside runway 26. The aircraft lost directional…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89335. 345 KB in all.

- Pilot Answers to Follow-Up Questions (item 1, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Answers%20to%20Follow-Up%20Questions-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Damage to Glider (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Damage%20to%20Glider%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)%0D%0A-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.

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