# NTSB ERA24LA029: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N17903, Elmira, NY, October 28, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 28, 2023, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Elmira, NY
- Coordinates: 42.120908, -76.901072
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1209&lon=-76.9011&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193339
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193339/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193339
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA029

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath for a landing on the intended runway, which resulted in an off-airport landing and impact with soft terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8051607), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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 2-33B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8051607), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=8051607), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)

## Analysis

At the conclusion of the glider flight, the pilot entered the left airport traffic pattern for landing, but the wind conditions had changed, so he maneuvered to the right traffic pattern. While on approach, the glider was too high, so he extended the dive brakes and attempted to slip the glider, but he was unable to lose enough altitude for a safe landing on the runway, and elected to land on an adjacent field. During touchdown, the nose of the glider dug into the soft terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical issues that precluded normal operation or performance and that he was “just too high” and unable to safely land on the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17903](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17903), registered now, S/N 283, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33b) (registry code 8051607) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 283
- Year built: 1973
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Harris Hill Soaring Corp
- Registered owner: Harris Hill Soaring Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Airport: 4NY8, Harris Hill, runway 16, 1,115 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 30,000 total, 220 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: BGM, 41 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBGM 181953Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM OVC055 13/05 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP202 T01280050=

## 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 20231028020039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231028020039A), Oct 28, 2023: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Elmira, NY, Substantial damage. On October 28, 2023, at 1600, a 1973 Schweizer glider model SGS-2-23A operated by an instroctor pilot returned to land at Harris Hill gliderport (4NY8) in…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193339. 6.2 MB in all.

- Pilot's report of accident (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16357979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Report%20of%20Accident_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16423143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431910&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record_FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16357651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs_N17903-Rel.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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