Schweizer SGS 1-26C N2743Z

Summary

On 22 July 2007 at about 18:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26C registered N2743Z was involved in an accident near Windsor, Virginia, 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

22 July 2007 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Windsor, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.8483, -76.6881

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-26C

Registration

N2743Z

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Windsor → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07CA172

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to properly plan the approach to the airport, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. A factor was the gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While returning from a local flight, the pilot realized that the glider did not have enough altitude to reach the airport. He identified a farm field to perform a forced landing to. While on approach to the field, and while gliding over trees, the glider was "hit by a gust of wind," and entered the tree tops while traveling about 50 mph. The left wing struck a large tree, turning the glider 180 degrees, before the nose pitched down and impacted the forest floor. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies of the glider, and reported that the winds were "very gusty" on the day of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.