# NTSB NYC07CA060: Schweizer SGS 2-32, N32BM, Bath, PA, January 29, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2007, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Bath, PA
- Coordinates: 40.807777, -75.396667
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8078&lon=-75.3967&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Allentown FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65214
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65214/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA060

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged altitude/distance while on approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees during an off airport landing.  A factor in the accident was the loss of lift.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, descent
  - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The glider collided with trees while the pilot was attempting an off airport landing.  The glider was towed to an altitude of 3,000 feet and released.  The pilot flew around a ridgeline for about 30 minutes, and when the lift dissipated, he elected to attempt a landing in a corn field.  During the base to final approach turn, the glider impacted trees prior to coming to rest in the field.  The outboard 6 feet of the glider's left wing separated, and the fuselage was damaged.  The pilot reported that he extended the downwind leg too far, and did not compensate adequately for winds.  Winds were reported about the time of the accident, at an airport located 22 miles north of the accident site, from 290 degrees at 8 knots.  The pilot reported 3,400 hours of total glider flight experience, which included about 300 hours in the same make and model as the accident glider.

## Factual narrative

The Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider was towed to an altitude of 3,000 feet and released.  The pilot flew around a ridgeline for about 30 minutes, and when the lift dissipated, he elected to attempt a landing to a corn field.  During the base to final approach turn, the glider impacted trees, prior to coming to rest in the field.  The outboard 6 feet of the glider's left wing separated, and the fuselage was damaged.  The pilot reported that he extended the downwind leg too far, and did not compensate adequately for winds.  Winds reported about the time of the accident, at an airport located 22 miles north of the accident site, were from 290 at 8 knots.  The pilot reported 3,400 hours of total glider flight experience, which included about 300 hours in the same make and model as the accident glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N32BM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 2-32
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 33
- Airframe hours: 6600
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert E. Cook
- Registered owner: James R. Angelou
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, PA
- Destination: 1N7, Bath, PA
- Airport: 1N7, Blairstown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: MPO, 22 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 20070129000879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070129000879A), Jan 29, 2007: Scwzer SGS232, Bath, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot and passenger departed blairstown, NJ airport (1N7) in a glider at 1430 local time and were towed to the apalachian ridge in eastern Pennsylvania.…

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.