# NTSB WPR09CA359: Schweizer SGS-2-33A, N65825, Truckee, CA, July 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2009, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Truckee, CA - Coordinates: 39.318611, -120.136947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3186&lon=-120.1369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74334/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74334 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA359 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid a stall during final approach to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 2-33A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8051606), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student glider pilot had flown in the morning, and returned for a flight to gain experience in afternoon wind conditions. This was his eighth solo flight, and his launch limitations were surface winds less than 10 miles per hour (mph) and crosswinds no greater than 60 degrees to the runway. Takeoff conditions met those parameters, and he departed. He returned to land and set up a pattern approach to runway 19, maintaining about 60 mph at 700-800 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot felt that his altitude was high on the downwind leg so he performed a slip maneuver to lose altitude to 500-600 feet. When turning to the base leg, the glider suddenly lost altitude to about 300 feet agl, and the pilot initiated an early turn to final. The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that, when the student turned from downwind to base, the glider was lower than expected, and he observed the spoilers open. As the CFI was about to radio the student, the spoilers closed. The CFI stated that the glider was low, slow, and nose high as it approached the runway threshold. It appeared to stall, and dropped onto the runway from an altitude of 5-6 feet. It hit hard, bounced, and dragged both wing tips. After the glider came to a rest, the CFI reported that the spoiler's were not out. A witness stated that the winds had been from the south-southwest at 10 knots most of the day with occasional gusts greater than 10 knots. Twenty minutes prior to the accident, the wind was reported from 270 degrees at 16 knots. ## Factual narrative The student glider pilot had flown in the morning, and returned for a flight to gain experience in afternoon wind conditions. This was his eighth solo flight, and his launch limitations were surface winds less than 10 miles per hour (mph) and crosswinds no greater than 60 degrees to the runway. Takeoff conditions met those parameters, and he departed. He returned for landing, and was maintaining 60 mph at 700-800 feet above ground level (agl). He felt that this was high towards the end of the downwind leg for runway 19, and he performed a slip maneuver to lose altitude to 500-600 feet. When he turned to the base leg, the glider suddenly lost altitude to about 300 feet agl, and he initiated an early turn to final. The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that, when the student turned from downwind to base, the glider was lower than expected, and he observed the spoilers open. As the CFI was about to radio the student, the spoilers closed. The CFI stated that the glider was low, slow, and nose high as it approached the runway threshold. It appeared to stall, and dropped onto the runway from an altitude of 5-6 feet. It hit hard, bounced, and dragged both wing tips. After the glider came to a rest, the CFI reported that the spoiler's were not out. A witness stated that the winds had been from the south-southwest at 10 knots most of the day with occasional gusts greater than 10 knots. Twenty minutes prior to the accident, the wind was reported from 270 degrees at 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65825](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65825), registered now, S/N 305, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS-2-33A - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a) (registry code 8051606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 305 - Airframe hours: 5230 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Soar Truckee Inc - Registered owner: Soar Truckee Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2009 - Departed: TRK, Truckee, CA - Destination: TRK, Truckee, CA - Airport: TRK, Truckee, runway 19, 4,650 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private, student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 221 total, 7 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: TRK ## 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 20090719013309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090719013309A), Jul 19, 2009: Scwzer SGS233A, Truckee, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot on solo flight experienced a hard landing during the flare to touchdown on runway 19 at trk. Two instructors observing the landing stated… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74334. 315 KB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317547&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - CFI Statement (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.