Schweizer SGS 2-33 N5720S

Summary

On 2 August 1998 at about 17:30 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33 registered N5720S was involved in an accident near Ephrata, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 1998 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ephrata, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Ephrata Municipal (EPH)

Coordinates

47.2700, -119.5895

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33

Registration

N5720S

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98TA156

1 person had minor injuries.

The student pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the landing. Contributing factors were panic and inadequate initial training.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 14-year-old Civil Air Patrol (CAP) student pilot-in-command had completed two auto-tow dual flights on the morning of the accident and was on her initial solo flight (also an auto-tow) when, according to the FAA CAP liaison officer, 'she landed with excessive airspeed, and bounced back in the air after touchdown' and then 'panicked and let go of the controls.' The FAA CAP liaison officer reported that 'witness's [sic] could hear her screaming' and that 'the left wing of the glider dropped and the nose turned to the left and dropped' and then 'the left wing hit the ground, followed by the nose.' The pilot had a total of 2 hours of flight experience all within the previous ten days to the accident, which included about 22 auto-tow flights to about 800 feet, and two aero-tow flights to approximately 3,000 feet. The FAA CAP liaison officer reported that the-14-year old student pilot may not have been mature enough for this intensive training program.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.