# NTSB NYC95LA189: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N5750S, Erwinna, PA, August 13, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1995, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Erwinna, PA - Coordinates: 40.489589, -75.080749 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4896&lon=-75.0807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39027/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA189 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's inadequate supervision during the final approach which resulted in the student flying a low approach and a subsequent collision with the trees. A factor relating to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT HAD RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING AFTER CONDUCTING AIRWORK. DURING THE APPROACH THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE ASKED THE STUDENT HOW THE ALTITUDE LOOKED FOR THE APPROACH, AND '...HE [THE STUDENT] RESPONDED THAT WE WERE HIGH AND IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE DIVE BRAKES FULLY AND PUT IN A MODERATE SLIP. I SAID NO....I PUSHED THE DIVE BRAKES SHUT AND TOLD THE STUDENT TO TAKE OUT THE SLIP....I AIMED FOR A NOTCH IN THE TREES, PUT IN [A] CRAB TO STOP THE SIDE DRIFT AND FLY ALONG THE LINE OF THE RUNWAY....BOTH WINGTIPS HIT THE TREES....' ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WITH THE GLIDER. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1995 about 1655 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A, a glider, N5750S, was substantially damaged, when it collided with trees, during the final approach at the Vansant Airport, Erwinna, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight operated by Soaring Society of Princeton University. There was no flight plan for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight instructor's stated that this was the second flight of the day with this student. The glider was towed to 3000 feet above ground level (AGL) and released. The student conducted airwork, and then returned to the airport for landing. The student entered the pattern on the crosswind leg at 1000 feet AGL. The instructor further stated: ...Entering base, it looked to me like we were on track for a normal landing. The dive brakes were still partially opened....We were not so high that we would need a slip in addition to dive brakes on final. I had another look for power and glider traffic, saw that we were clear and asked the student how our altitude was. He responded that we were high and immediately opened the dive brakes fully and put in a moderate slip. I said "No,"....The variometer was showing between 800 and 900 feet per minute down. I pushed the dive brakes shut and told the student to take out the slip.... ...I aimed for a notch in the trees, put in [a] crab to stop the side drift and fly along the line of the runway. Approaching the trees, the airspeed was down to 40 MPH, and there was no energy left to pull up the ten feet needed to clear. Both wingtips hit the trees. The glider turned sharply to the side.... Additionally, in the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5750S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5750S), registered now, S/N 50 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33) (registry code 8051604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 50 - Airframe hours: 3320 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Soaring Society Of Princeton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 1995, 68 hours before - Departed: 9N1 - Airport: 9N1, Vansant, runway 23, 1,340 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 183 total, 107 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots, gusting 13 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950813023149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950813023149A), Aug 13, 1995: Scwzer SGS233, Erwinna, PA, Substantial damage. On glide slope student suddenly used dive brake and slip. CFI took over but unable correct. Glider struck trees. 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.