- Date
- April 28, 2017, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Blairstown, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2682HSchweizer SGS134
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170428006769A
- Case key
- 95096
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath on approach for landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an off-airport landing and impact with soccer goal posts.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of a glider reported that he encountered turbulence and heavy sink on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He added that, on final approach, the glider encountered additional "heavy sink" and a "gusting headwind." He further added that the glider was approaching soccer fields short of the runway and that he cleared an initial goal post but that the glider impacted another goal post and impacted the ground. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 12 miles east of the airport reported that, about 14 minutes after the accident, the wind was variable at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 25.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a glider reported that he encountered turbulence and heavy sink on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He added that on final approach, the glider encountered additional "heavy sink" and a "gusting headwind". He further added that the glider was approaching soccer fields short of the runway and he was able to clear an initial goal post, but the glider impacted another goal post and impacted the ground. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 12 miles to the east of the airport reported that about 14 minutes after the accident the wind was variable at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 25.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2682H
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS134 (R)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 92
- Built
- 1977
- Airframe hours
- 1,796.8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Aero Club Albatross
- Registered owner
- Aero Club Albatross
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 27, 2016
- Departed
- 1N7 · Blairstown, NJ
- Destination
- 1N7 · Blairstown, NJ
- Airport
- 1N7 · Blairstown
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Last flight review
- June 26, 2016
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 416 total · 26 in this make and model · 223 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- K12N, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.