Schweizer SGU 2-22E N9920J

Summary

On 17 July 1998 at about 19:00 local time, a Schweizer SGU 2-22E registered N9920J, operated by Flight Training Adventure Camp, was involved in an accident near Canon City, Colorado, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

17 July 1998 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Canon City, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Fremont County (1V6)

Coordinates

38.4395, -105.2297

Aircraft

Schweizer SGU 2-22E

Registration

N9920J

Category

Glider

Operator

Flight Training Adventure Camp

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA323

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude and his premature deployment of the spoilers, resulting in a undershoot and hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider was launched by a ground vehicle. After achieving an altitude of 850 feet agl, the pilot disconnected the tow rope and turned into the traffic pattern for landing. While on a left downwind leg at an altitude of 650 feet, he demonstrated a stall to his passenger, losing approximately 75 feet. A 500 foot per minute sink rate developed, and the pilot decided to cut short the downwind and base legs. The sink rate continued to increase and he lowered the nose to maintain a safe airspeed. When he deployed the spoilers, the glider landed short and the main landing gear struck the runway lip.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.