# NTSB SEA08LA067: Schweizer SGS 2-32, N87R, Hollister, CA, January 25, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 2008, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Hollister, CA - Coordinates: 36.900001, -121.417221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9000&lon=-121.4172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67428/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA067 ## Probable cause The dual student's failure to maintain aircraft control while taxiing from the active runway and the delayed remedial action by the flight instructor. A contributing factor was the unfavorable high wind condition. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider flight instructor was giving a lesson to a 12-hour student pilot. The weather conditions were deteriorating rapidly with cloud bases at 3,900 feet and the wind was 110 degrees at 30 knots gusting to 37 knots. The tow departure was on runway 13; the flight instructor said they encountered some light rain during the tow. She said they stayed in the traffic pattern with left hand turns. The flight instructor said the student kept the glider aligned with the runway centerline and the landing was "light." The student turned off the runway on to a high speed taxiway, but the glider began drifting to the left. The left wing impacted a runway sign and light. The left wing's leading edge was indented approximately 10 inches to the spar and the left inboard aileron was wrinkled and bent. The glider club owner said that the flight instructor was delayed in taking control of the glider during taxi. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 2008, approximately 1200 Pacific standard time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider, N87R, was substantially damaged when it impacted a taxi sign and light during taxiing at Hollister Municipal Airport (CVH), Hollister, California. The flight instructor and her student were not injured. A private individual was operating the flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, instructional flight that originated approximately 10 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The glider flight instructor was giving a lesson to a 12 hour student pilot. The weather conditions were deteriorating rapidly with cloud bases at 3,900 feet, and the wind was 110 degrees at 30 knots gusting to 37 knots. The tow departure was on runway 13; the flight instructor said they encountered some light rain during the tow. She said they stayed in the traffic pattern with left hand turns and the landing was uneventful. The student turned off the runway on to a high speed taxiway, but the glider began drifting to the left. The left wing impacted a runway sign and light. The left wing's leading edge was indented approximately 10 inches to the spar and the left inboard aileron was wrinkled and bent. The glider owner said that the flight instructor was delayed in taking control of the glider during taxi. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87R-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 41, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 2-32 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32) (registry code 8050206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 41 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Quest Richlife - Registered owner: Quest A. Richlife - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility - Departed: CVH, Hollister, CA - Destination: CVH - Airport: CVH, Hollister Municipal Airport, runway 13, 6,350 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,331 total, 644 in this make and model, 88 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 32; student; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 30 knots, gusting 37 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: SNS, 15 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 20080125011299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080125011299A), Jan 25, 2008: Scwzer SGS232, Hollister, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The glider was said to have landed and was rolling out on the centerline of runway 13 at Hollister Municipal Airport (cvh). The winds were being reported… ## Other investigations on N87R (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR22LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA007), Oct 9, 2021: Schweizer SGS 2-32 (N87R), San Juan Baptista, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing. 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.