# NTSB GAA15CA141: Schweizer SGS 2 32, N275P, Middlefield, OH, June 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2015, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Middlefield, OH - Coordinates: 41.449722, -81.063056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4497&lon=-81.0631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA141 ## Probable cause The student pilot's incorrect pitch and roll rate control inputs which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and incipient spin at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [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. - [Takeoff: Glider tow event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510); cases with it: [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/510/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during a simulated glider tow rope break emergency procedure, the student pilot did not enter the correct control inputs, and the glider stalled and entered an incipient spin. The flight instructor arrested the spin, and was confronted with power line wires. The flight instructor stated that he, "immediately applied down elevator diving under the power lines." The glider impacted the terrain and trees. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings and the horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during a simulated glider tow rope break emergency procedure, the student pilot did not enter the correct control inputs, and the glider stalled and entered an incipient spin. The flight instructor arrested the spin, and was confronted with power line wires. The flight instructor stated that he, "immediately applied down elevator diving under the power lines." The glider impacted the terrain and trees. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings and the horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N275P (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2 32 (NO SERIES) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 10 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 995 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cleveland Soaring Society Inc - Registered owner: Cleveland Soaring Society Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2015, 17 hours before - Departed: 7G8, Middlefield, OH - Destination: 7G8, Middlefield, OH - Airport: 7G8, Geauga County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 2, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,383 total, 127 in this make and model, 2,240 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 64; injuries: none; student; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 19 total, 19 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KPOV, 17 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 20150625009319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150625009319A), Jun 25, 2015: Schweizer SGS 2-32, Middlefield, OH, Substantial damage. On the initial climb-out at 300 feet AGL, the instructor initiated a training rope break exercise. The student initiated a turn back toward the airport,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91453. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wings and Horizontal Stabilizer (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wings%20and%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%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.