# NTSB GAA17CA298: Schweizer SGS233, N1242S, Springfield, VT, May 20, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 20, 2017, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Springfield, VT - Coordinates: 43.343612, -72.517219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3436&lon=-72.5172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95221/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95221 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA298 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the glider landing short of the runway in trees. ## 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 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8051606), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during the turn to final approach, the glider appeared to be above glidepath, so the student pilot used dive brakes to descend. He added that, once the glider returned to a normal glidepath, the student retracted the dive brakes, but the glider continued in a "higher than normal" descent rate. The flight instructor took control of the glider and landed short of the intended runway in trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit a written statement after multiple requests. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that, during the turn to final approach, the glider appeared to be above glidepath, so the student pilot used dive brakes to descend. He added that once the glider returned to a normal glidepath the student retracted the dive brakes, but the glider continued in a "higher than normal" descent rate. The flight instructor took control of the glider and landed short of the intended runway in trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit a written statement after multiple requests. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1242S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1242S), registered now, S/N 224, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS233 (A) - 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: 224 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 2557 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 2017 - Departed: VSF, Springfield, VT - Destination: VSF, Springfield, VT - Airport: VSF, Hartness State (Springfield), runway 05, 5,501 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 2, 2017; seat: rear; flight hours: 22,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 10,500 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 15; injuries: none; student; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KVSF ## 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 20170520012409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170520012409A), May 20, 2017: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, North Springfie, VT, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was conducting a proficiency ride for a student of the new england soaring club. The student flew a normal pattern. Turning final, the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95221. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 625 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454081&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.