Schweizer SGS 2-32 N32BM

Summary

On 29 January 2007 at about 20:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 registered N32BM, operated by Robert E. Cook, was involved in an accident near Bath, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 January 2007 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bath, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Blairstown (1N7)

Coordinates

40.8078, -75.3967

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-32

Registration

N32BM

Category

Glider

Operator

Robert E. Cook

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blairstown → Bath

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07CA060

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's misjudged altitude/distance while on approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees during an off airport landing. A factor in the accident was the loss of lift.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider collided with trees while the pilot was attempting an off airport landing. The glider was towed to an altitude of 3,000 feet and released. The pilot flew around a ridgeline for about 30 minutes, and when the lift dissipated, he elected to attempt a landing in a corn field. During the base to final approach turn, the glider impacted trees prior to coming to rest in the field. The outboard 6 feet of the glider's left wing separated, and the fuselage was damaged. The pilot reported that he extended the downwind leg too far, and did not compensate adequately for winds. Winds were reported about the time of the accident, at an airport located 22 miles north of the accident site, from 290 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot reported 3,400 hours of total glider flight experience, which included about 300 hours in the same make and model as the accident glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.