# NTSB NYC89LA173: Schweizer 1-23, N91867, Eighty Four, PA, July 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1989, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Eighty Four, PA
- Coordinates: 40.180648, -80.130378 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1806&lon=-80.1304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36445/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA173

## Probable cause

POOR HANDLING OF THE GLIDER DURIG LANDING. THE PILOT OVER CORRECTED AND CAUSED THE NOSE TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY SURFACE.  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, RESULTING IN A GROUNDLOOP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PILOT MADE A POOR LANDING PATTERN WITH EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. ON TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT SAID THAT HE OVER-CONTROLLED THE GLIDER ALLOWING THE NOSE TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND AT THIS TIME HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE GLIDER BOUNCED AND GROUNDLOOPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91867](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91867-1992-07-29), registration cancelled 1992-07-29, S/N 2 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 1-23
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-23) (registry code 8050102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 1-23
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruno Cerceo
- Registered owner: 1-23 Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 22D, EIGHTY-FOUR, PA
- Airport: 22D, Bandel, runway 18, 2,095 × 98 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 165 total, 2 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19890723025189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890723025189A), Jul 23, 1989: Scwzer SGS123, Eighty Four, PA, Substantial damage. Excessive speed on final, over controlled on landing. Bounced and ground looped. Impact wrinkled wings of glider.

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.