- Date
- August 23, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wurtsboro, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N17885Schweizer 2-33A
- Defining event
- Approach: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080823849309A
- Case key
- 68784
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 failure of the dual student to relinquish flight control of the glider.
Findings · 2
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 certified flight instructor (CFI) of a Schweizer SGS2-33A glider stated that the accident flight was his first training flight with the student. He reviewed the student’s logbook and ascertained that he had a total of 25 flight hours in gliders. The CFI gave the student pilot ground instructions regarding speed limitations, pattern and approach speeds, and pattern entry execution. The student then performed the launch and tow to 2,500 feet above ground level, and the in-flight maneuvers were uneventful. During the approach to land, the CFI instructed the student pilot to "make a shallow left turn to get closer to runway 23;" however, the student pilot turned right. The CFI repeated "turn left," but the student pilot again turned right. The CFI advised the student pilot that he was taking control of the glider. He said that he repeated this to the student pilot but he did not respond nor did he relinquish control of the glider. Consequently, the glider impacted nose first into the ground. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the wings and fuselage were buckled.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) of a Schweizer SGS2-33A glider stated that the accident flight was his first training flight with the student. He reviewed the student's logbook and ascertained that he had a total of 25 flight hours in gliders. The CFI gave the student pilot ground instructions regarding speed limitations, pattern and approach speeds, and pattern entry execution. The student then performed the launch and tow to 2,500 feet above ground level, and the in-flight maneuvers were uneventful. During the approach to land, the CFI instructed the student pilot to "make a shallow left turn to get closer to runway 23;" however, the student pilot turned right. The CFI repeated "turn left," but the student pilot again turned right. The CFI advised the student pilot that he was taking control of the glider. He said that he repeated this to the student pilot but he did not respond nor did he relinquish control of the glider. Consequently, the glider impacted nose first into the ground. Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the wings and fuselage were buckled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N17885
- Reported as
- Schweizer 2-33A
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 255
- Airframe hours
- 4,475
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Waco Transport LLC, doing business as Wurtsboro Flight Management incorporated
- Registered owner
- Waco Transport LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2008
- Departed
- N82 · Wurtsboro, NY
- Destination
- N82 · Wurtsboro, NY
- Airport
- N82 · Wurtsboro-Sullivan County
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2007
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,730 total · 120 in this make and model · 1,600 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 25 total · 5 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- MGJ, 10 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.