Schweizer SGS 2-33A N17888

Summary

On 15 October 2007 at about 18:40 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A registered N17888 was involved in an accident near Tehachapi, California, 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

15 October 2007 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Tehachapi, California, United States

Nearest airport

Mountain Valley Airport (L94)

Coordinates

35.1011, -118.4231

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Registration

N17888

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tehachapi → Tehachapi

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08CA011

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to an undershoot, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

This was the pilot's first solo glider flight. He made a standard entry into the traffic pattern for a landing approach. He noted some turbulence that caused a decrease in altitude. On the final leg, the pilot attempted a slight correction to align with the runway. The right wing tip collided with a wire fence and the glider came to rest facing the fence approximately 50 feet short of the runway. The instructor of the accident pilot, and several witnesses, noted that the traffic pattern was flown lower than normal. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.