# NTSB NYC08CA216: Schweizer S6S 2-33, N5714S, Mercer, PA, June 15, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2008, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Mercer, PA
- Coordinates: 41.219005, -80.22924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2190&lon=-80.2292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Allegheny FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68234
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68234/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA216

## Probable cause

The private pilot's improper aircraft handling.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the instructional flight in the glider, a normal traffic pattern and normal approach were performed to runway 28. About 20 feet above the runway, the certified flight instructor instructed the private pilot to reduce the spoilers slightly and pull back on the stick. The private pilot then increased the spoiler application and moved the control stick forward. The glider immediately hit the runway in a nose-low attitude, bounced once, and slid to a stop down a slope next to the runway. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported with the glider.

## Factual narrative

During the instructional flight in the Schweizer SGS 2-33 glider a normal traffic pattern and normal approach were performed to runway 28. About 20 feet above the runway, the CFI instructed the private pilot to reduce the spoilers slightly and pull back on the stick. The private pilot then increased the spoiler application and moved the control stick forward. The glider immediately hit the runway nose low, bounced once and slid to a stop down a slope, beside the runway. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported with the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5714S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer S6S 2-33
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 60
- Airframe hours: 1425
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Silent Wings Soaring, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008
- Departed: 29D, Mercer, PA
- Destination: 29D, Mercer, PA
- Airport: 29D, Grove City Airport, runway 28, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: minor; military, flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 26,000 total, 155 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; seat: front; flight hours: 75 total, 33 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: UCP, 13 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 20080615834799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080615834799A), Jun 15, 2008: Scwzer SGS233, Grove City, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot [privacy data omitted] certificate n#[privacy data omitted] stated that on final approach to runway 28AT (29D) Grove City Airport pa, at…

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.