Schweizer SGS-2-33A N17957
11 May 1996 · Readington, New Jersey, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 May 1996 at about 20:45 local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A registered N17957 was involved in an accident near Readington, New Jersey, 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 20:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Readington, New Jersey, United States
- Nearest airport
- Solberg-Hunterdon (SBJ)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-2-33A
- Registration
- N17957
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Van Sant → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC96LA104
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather, and his misjudgment of altitude and distance from the runway. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of recent experience and the weather.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot obtained a prerecorded weather briefing about 0930 that stated VFR flight was not recommended due to an expected frontal passage that afternoon. The pilot was flown in a tow plane to retrieve a Club glider at another airport. The glider was preflighted, and the tow plane departed about 1625 with the glider in tow. Upon arrival at their destination airport, the glider pilot released from the tow plane and entered the downwind for runway 22. The pilot stated that after he established the glider on a right base for runway 22, he encountered a down draft and determined that he would not make runway 22. The pilot then made a steep right turn and attempted to land on runway 31. He was not able to level the wings with full left aileron and the right wing struck the ground. A witness stated that the glider flew the base leg on the far side of runway 31, and when it turned final it developed a sink rate. The pilot estimated the winds were from 230 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20. During the previous 5-1/2 months, the pilot had logged 2 landings and a total of 1 hour and 27 minutes in gliders.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer SGS-2 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 1996 | Schweizer SGS 2-33AK | Mattoon, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1996 | Schweizer SGS-2-33A | Bloomingburg, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1997 | Schweizer SGS 2-8 | Menominee Falls, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1995 | Schweizer SGS 2-33 | Barre, Massachusetts, United States | Bouchard Gliders | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1997 | Schweizer SGS 2-33A | Llano, California, United States | Civil Air Patrol Squadron 41 | No injuries | - |
| 7 Apr 1995 | Schweizer SGS 2-33A | Peoria, Arizona, United States | Turf Soaring School | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 1996 | Pitts S-2B | Freehold Twsp, New Jersey, United States | John Mullaney | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Jun 1996 | Beechcraft V35 | Williamstown, New Jersey, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 18 Jul 1996 | Champion 7GCBC | Farmingdale, New Jersey, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jul 1996 | Piper PA-28-181 | Sea Bright, New Jersey, United States | Albert J. Battifarano | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 Sep 1996 | Piper PA-28-140 | Frankford Twnsp, New Jersey, United States | Robert S. Golabek | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Jan 1996 | Cessna 150M | Readington, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |