Schweizer SGS-1-36 N3617C
15 November 1991 · Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 15 November 1991 at about 19:30 local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-36 registered N3617C, operated by James S. Neithercott, was involved in an accident near Erwinna, 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 19:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nearest airport
- Van Sant (9N1)
- Coordinates
- 40.4901, -75.0800
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-36
- Registration
- N3617C
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- James S. Neithercott
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC92LA033
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT ROTATED THE GLIDER PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN GLIDERS, NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF GLIDER, AND IMPROPER TRIM SETTING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
JUST AFTER LIFT OFF THE GLIDER BALLOONED ABOVE THE TOW PLANE. THE PILOT USED ELEVATOR CONTROL TO LOWER THE ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN THE GLIDER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE GLIDER CLIMBED ABOVE THE TOW PLANE AGAIN, THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS TYPE OF GLIDER AND HE SAID HE ESTIMATED THE TRIM SETTING BECAUSE HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TRIM SYSTEM ON THIS TYPE OF GLIDER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer SGS-1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun 1991 | Schweizer SGS 1-34 | Highland, Illinois, United States | St. Louis Soaring Assn, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1991 | Schweizer SGS-1-30 | Wurtsboro, New York, United States | Wurtsboro Flight Service, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 May 1992 | Schweizer SGS-1-35C | Big Timber, Montana, United States | Ridge Runners Inc. | 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 | - |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, United States | Skyhaven Airport, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 1991 | Boeing 747-400 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | KLM Royal Dutch Airline | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1991 | Waco UPF-7 | Stebensville, Pennsylvania, United States | Kriss Alan Kliegle | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Thomasville, Pennsylvania, United States | Richard Miller | No injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1991 | Cessna 150J | Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, United States | John H Galicic | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-38-112 | Butler, Pennsylvania, United States | Beaver Aviation Service Inc. | No injuries | - |