# NTSB WPR22LA007: Schweizer SGS 2-32, N87R, San Juan Baptista, CA, October 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 9, 2021, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: San Juan Baptista, CA · fence-lined open field - Coordinates: 36.857972, -121.49844 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8580&lon=-121.4984&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104088 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104088/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104088 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA007 ## Probable cause The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-32, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8050206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the glider reported that, while on a sightseeing flight with two passengers, about 10 minutes into the flight, the glider encountered an area with a loss of lift. He turned toward an area where lift was expected; however, the glider continued to descend. The pilot stated that there was not sufficient altitude to reach the airport, and he elected to land on a dirt road. During the landing flare, about 4-5 ft above ground level (agl), the glider abruptly yawed to the left due to a collision with an object and dropped onto the dirt road in a flat attitude; the glider bounced once and then came to rest upright on the dirt road. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 10270.6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hollister Soaring Center LLC - Registered owner: Hollister Soaring Center LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2021 - Departed: CVH, Hollister, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: CVH, Hollister Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3.6 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 5 knots, gusting 11 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KCVH, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KCVH 092255Z AUTO 32005G11KT 10SM CLR 24/05 A3011 RMK A01= ## 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 20211009017819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211009017819A), Oct 9, 2021: Schweizer SGS 2-32, San Juan Bautis, CA, Substantial damage. San Juan bautista, CA: N87R, sgs 2-32, crashed approx 7 miles west of Hollister Municipal Airport (cvh) during an off-airport landing on a sightseeing glider… ## 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 SEA08LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA067), Jan 25, 2008: Schweizer SGS 2-32 (N87R), Hollister, CA, substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104088. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13270601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 941 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13270427&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.