Schweizer SGS 1-26C N9944J
23 July 1989 · Ms State Univ, Mississippi, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 July 1989 at about 21:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26C registered N9944J, operated by State College Glider Club, Inc, was involved in an accident near Ms State Univ, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and nobody was 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 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ms State Univ, Mississippi, United States
- Nearest airport
- George M Bryan Field (STF)
- Coordinates
- 33.4506, -88.7905
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-26C
- Registration
- N9944J
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- State College Glider Club, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA89LA206
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE TOW VEHICLE DRIVER TO USE/MAINTAIN THE PROPER SPEED, THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND HIGH VEGETATION (UNCUT HAY).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AN AUTO TOW WAS BEING USED TO LAUNCH THE GLIDER. AS THE GLIDER REACHED AN ALT OF ABOUT 200 TO 250 FT, THE AUTO DRIVER REALIZED HE WAS EXCEEDING THE PLANNED SPEED, SO HE SLOWED THE AUTO BY 5 TO 10 MPH. AT THAT TIME, THE TOW LINE SLACKENED,THEN RELEASED AUTOMATICALLY. THE STUDENT PLT DECIDED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO AN UNCUT HAY FIELD. DRG THE LANDING, THE HAY CAUGHT THE RIGHT WING & THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED, DAMAGING THE WING & FUSELAGE. THE RECOGNIZED SOARING PUBLICATIONS ADVISED THAT 180 DEG TURNS BACK TO THE RWY FOR DOWNWIND LNDGS WERE SAFE & PERMISSIBLE AT ALTITUDES OF 200 FT OR MORE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer SGS-1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 1989 | Schweizer SGS 1-26E | Alabaster, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Nov 1989 | Schweizer SGS-1-35C | Paint Bank, Virginia, United States | Steven D. Stigler | No injuries | - |
| 14 Aug 1990 | Schweizer SGS 1-35 | Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States | Richard Allen Giboney | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 May 1990 | Schweizer SGS 1-26 | Waialua, Hawaii, United States | Soar Hawaii, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1988 | Schweizer SGS 1-34 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Jun 1990 | Schweizer SGS 1-26B | Truckee, California, United States | Robert L. Tanner | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 1989 | Cessna 172M | Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 May 1989 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1989 | Beechcraft A36 | Shelby, Mississippi, United States | Nesbitt, Reeves | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Aug 1989 | Cessna 177RG | Janice, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Oct 1989 | Beechcraft 58P | Jackson, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1989 | Beechcraft G18S | Jackson, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |