# NTSB LAX02LA098: Schweizer SGS 2-32, N2466W, Peoria, AZ, March 1, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2002, 17:20 local (Mar 1, 2002, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Peoria, AZ - Coordinates: 33.801109, -112.251113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8011&lon=-112.2511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 54302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54302/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54302 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA098 ## Probable cause Failure of the cyclist to coordinate and communicate that he was on the active runway. A contributing factor was the sun glare encountered by the pilot on final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - other person (cause) - air/ground communications - not coordinated/diseminated, ground personnel (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) ## Analysis On landing touchdown the right wing of the glider struck a cyclist who was on the active runway. A prelanding checklist was conducted that included visually checking to see that the runway was free of objects. The landing was made into the setting sun and the pilot did not see the cyclist until the landing gear had touched down on the runway. The pilot made an unsuccessful attempt to maneuver the glider away from the cyclist. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2002, about 1720 mountain standard time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32, N2466W, collided with a man on a bicycle after landing on runway 23L at the Pleasant Valley Airport, Peoria, Arizona. The glider, owned and operated by Turf Soaring School and rented by the pilot, was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The glider sustained substantial damage. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The man on the bicycle sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he stated that he entered the downwind leg for runway 23L and completed the landing checklist. This included visually checking that the runway was free of objects. The pilot reported that the sun was low on the horizon. He flared the glider about 100 feet down the runway. Immediately after the glider touched down he saw a cyclist directly in front of him on the runway. The cyclists' back was facing the glider. He attempted to avoid the cyclist by kicking in left rudder. The glider started to "crab to the left," and the right wing struck the cyclist. The glider entered a ground loop and came to rest upright. According to the passenger's written statement, she stated that the runway was clear of objects when they conducted the prelanding checklist on approach. When they turned onto final, she saw a cyclist to the right side of the runway, heading away from them. She stated that she told the pilot, who maneuvered the glider away from the cyclist. She reported that they felt something hit the glider, and the glider went to the right coming to rest off the runway in scrub brush. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2466W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2466W), registered now, S/N 48, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 2-32 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32) (registry code 8050206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 48 - Airframe hours: 6006 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Baboquivari Soaring School Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 25, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: P48, PEORIA, AZ - Destination: P48, PEORIA, AZ - Airport: P48, Pleasant Valley, runway 23, 4,200 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review November 1, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 66 total, 46 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: DVT, 11 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 20020228003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020228003869A), Feb 28, 2002: Scwzer SGS232, Peoria, AZ, No damage. (-23) During the landing phase of flight (just after touchdown), the right outer wing hit a cyclist riding on runway 23L. The cyclist was positioned with his… ## Other investigations on N2466W (3) 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 OAK75FXQ14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75FXQ14), Aug 18, 1974: Schweizer SGS232 (N2466W), Truckee, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK69D0235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0235), Feb 15, 1969: Schweizer SGS232 (N2466W), Fremont, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK69D0011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0011), Jun 5, 1968: Schweizer SGS232 (N2466W), Fremont, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54302. 798 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, .PDF, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - passenger (item 2, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20passenger-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.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.