# NTSB NYC01LA225: Schweizer SGS 1-35, N2540H, Cumberland, MD, September 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 2001, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Cumberland, MD - Location: 39.6157° N, 78.7623° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GREATER CUMBERLAND RGNL (CBE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6157&lon=-78.7623&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-07 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53458/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA225 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged distance and altitude. A factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the glider. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - fence ## Analysis Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had not flown the same make and model as the accident glider. After soaring for several minutes, the pilot entered a downwind leg for runway 29 at 500 feet agl. On base leg, he extended the flaps to 30 degrees. The glider initially "ballooned," and the pilot maintained a 55-knot approach speed. The pilot then realized he was "too fast" and "too high." He then extended the flaps to 80 degrees, and performed a forward slip. The pilot's attention was diverted to another glider landing ahead of him, and the accident glider's spoiler/flap combination was not as effective as other models he had flown. The pilot touched down to the right of the glider ahead of him, on the grass adjacent to the runway, and more than 1,800 feet beyond the approach end of the 2,442-foot long, asphalt, runway. The glider then bounced several times, and traveled off the end of the runway into a fence. The reported wind at the airport, about 25 minutes prior to the accident, was from 140 degrees at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 2001, about 1620 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-35 glider, N2540H, was substantially damaged while landing at Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (CBE), Cumberland, Maryland. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed CBE about 1600. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had not flown the same make and model as the accident glider. He had approximately 92 hours of flight experience in gliders. The pilot received a cockpit briefing from an instructor, and was then towed to 3,000 feet above ground level (agl). After soaring for several minutes, the pilot entered a downwind leg for runway 29 at 500 feet agl. On base leg, he extended the flaps to 30 degrees. The glider initially "ballooned," and the pilot maintained a 55-knot approach speed. The pilot then realized he was "too fast" and "too high." He then extended the flaps to 80 degrees, and performed a forward slip. The pilot added that his attention was diverted to another glider landing ahead of him, and the accident glider's spoiler/flap combination was not as effective as other models he had flown. The pilot touched down to the right of the glider ahead of him, on the grass adjacent to the runway, and more than 1,800 feet beyond the approach end of the 2,442-foot long, asphalt runway. The glider then bounced several times, and traveled off the end of the runway into a fence. The glider sustained damage to the wing spars and fuselage. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The reported wind at CBE, at 1555, was from 140 degrees at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2540H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2540H-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 52, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 1-35 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-35](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-35) (registry code 8050148) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52 - Airframe hours: 1455.7 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cumberland Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 2000, 21.7 hours before - Departed: CBE, Cumberland, MD - Airport: CBE, Greater Cumberland Regional, runway 29, 2,442 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review July 19, 2000; seat: single; flight hours: 292 total, 0 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: CBE ## 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 20010908039349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010908039349A), Sep 8, 2001: Scwzer SGS135, Cumberland, MD, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was flying this type glider for the first time, after receiving a cockpit briefing from an instructor the pilot was towed to 3000 feet for a local… 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.