Schweizer SGS-2-33A N17914

Summary

On 14 October 1999 at about 00:27 local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A registered N17914, operated by Civil Air Patrol Hawaii Wing, was involved in an accident near Waialua, Hawaii, 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.

Date

14 October 1999 at 00:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Waialua, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

21.5706, -158.1194

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS-2-33A

Registration

N17914

Category

Glider

Operator

Civil Air Patrol Hawaii Wing

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA009

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's delay in recognizing the onset of a wind direction change resulting in the downward flow of wind on the leeward side of the mountain (strong sink rate).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot made an off-airport landing due to loss of lift and collided with ground obstructions on the roll out. The pilot stated that no weather facilities are located at the uncontrolled field, other than windsocks that are located at each end, and at midfield. He stated that the preflight weather briefing forecast was for winds from the northeast consistent with the prevailing northeast trade winds. The pilot indicated that he also received local weather information from other glider pilots who had been flying prior to his departure. He said that at 2,000 feet agl he released the glider from the tow plane and began to lose altitude instead of gaining altitude as he expected. He turned to the north, away from a ridge where a strong sink rate had been reported, and proceeded to the practice area. Shortly thereafter, he realized that strong southwesterly winds were creating a strong sink rate condition and he turned toward the airport. When it became apparent that he had insufficient altitude to reach the airport he elected to make an off field landing on a road in an abandoned sugar cane plantation. During the landing rollout the left wing contacted a dirt berm; the glider turned 180 degrees from the initial landing direction and came to rest in a ditch.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.