Schweizer SGS 1-34 N65920
7 August 1988 · Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 August 1988 at about 15:40 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 registered N65920 was involved in an accident near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Kutztown (N31)
- Coordinates
- 40.5194, -75.7695
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34
- Registration
- N65920
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC88LA206
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF AFTER THE CANOPY CAME OPEN. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY CLOSE THE CANOPY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE SCHWEIZER 1-34 GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED ALOFT BY A POWERED AIRCRAFT WHEN THE CANOPY OF THE GLIDER CAME OPEN IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT TRIED TO LOCK THE CANOPY, HOWEVER HE LOST CONTROL AND THE GLIDER PITCHED UP. THE TOW PLANE WAS PLACED IN NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND HE RELEASED THE GLIDER. THE GLIDER IMPACTED ON THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer SGS-1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 1988 | Schweizer SGS-1-26E | Elmira, New York, United States | Schweizer Aero Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1988 | Schweizer SGS-1-26A | Montague, California, United States | Montague Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jul 1988 | Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 | Hammonton, New Jersey, United States | William A. Miller | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Mar 1988 | Schweizer SGS 1-26A | Phelan, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1987 | Schweizer SGS 1-36 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Bernard S. Smith | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1987 | Schweizer SGS-1-34 | Dansville, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1988 | Schweizer SGS-2-33 | Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States | Country Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1988 | Piper PA-28-140 | Lehighton, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 1988 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1988 | Piper PA-28-140 | Smoketown, Pennsylvania, United States | Michael L. Kuhn | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1988 | Champion 7ECA | Bally, Pennsylvania, United States | Elmer E. Kramer | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1988 | Cessna 152 | Hillsville, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |