# NTSB LAX01LA174: Schweizer SGS 1-34, N7605, Adelanto, CA, May 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2001, 15:07 local (22:07 UTC) - Place: Adelanto, CA - Coordinates: 34.569442, -117.555557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5694&lon=-117.5556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52297/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's stall/mush as a result of his inadequate airspeed and improperly planned final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The student pilot was towed by airplane to about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) when the towline broke. Unable to find lift, the student pilot returned to the departure airfield. He entered the traffic pattern at 800 feet agl and attempted to land. On approach, the wind speed increased from about 5 to 10 knots. The pilot misjudged his distance from the runway and stalled. The glider impacted the sandy terrain about 200 feet short of the runway. . ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2001, about 1507 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34, N7605, owned and operated by the Phoenix Club, Inc., Anaheim, California, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of the runway at Krey Field, Adelanto, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the solo instructional flight, and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot was seriously injured. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91 and originated from the field about 1457. According to the pilot, he was towed by airplane to 4,000 feet mean sea level (about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl)), at which time the tow line broke. The line wrapped around the glider's left wing. Unable to find lift, the student pilot returned to the departure airfield, arriving at 800 feet agl. The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern to runway 09 and attempted to land. However, when the wind speed increased he misjudged his approach. The airplane touched down in a stalled attitude on the sandy terrain an estimated 200 feet short of the runway. The pilot estimated that the local wind was from the west. Its speed varied between 5 and 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7605](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7605-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 50 (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) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 50 - Airframe hours: 3066 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Phoenix Club, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2001, 6 hours before - Departed: 0CL1, El Mirage, CA - Destination: El Mirage, CA - Airport: 0CL1, Krey Field, runway 09, 5,000 × ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; student; seat: single; flight hours: 200 total, 120 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 11 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 45 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: EDW, 25 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 20010505008629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010505008629A), May 5, 2001: Scwzer SGS134, Adelanto, CA, Substantial damage. (.19)On may 5, 2001, about 1507 hours pacific daylight time, a Schweizer sgs 1-34, N7605, operated by the phoenix club, inc., anaheim, California, sustained… ## Other investigations on N7605 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX79FUQ31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUQ31), May 23, 1979: Schweizer SGS134 (N7605), Llano, CA, substantial damage 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.