Schweizer SGS 2-33A N17873

Summary

On 28 January 2012 at about 17:15 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A registered N17873, operated by Pleasant Valley Soaring LLC, was involved in an accident near Peoria, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

28 January 2012 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Peoria, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pleasant Valley Airport (KP$*)

Coordinates

33.7928, -112.2653

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Registration

N17873

Category

Glider

Operator

Pleasant Valley Soaring LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peoria → Peoria

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA084

2 people had minor injuries.

The glider pilot released from the tow airplane at a lower altitude than the planned altitude, which resulted in an off-airport landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot stated that he set the altimeter to the field elevation of 1,600 feet mean sea level (msl) before takeoff. He planned to have the glider towed to 4,000 feet above ground level (agl), which would be 5,600 feet msl, then to release the tow line. During the tow, the pilot released from the tow plane when the altimeter read 4,000 feet (which was 2,400 feet agl). During the return glide back to the airport in a headwind, he realized he was too low to make it to the airport and executed a landing 2 miles short of the runway into desert terrain. On final approach for landing, the pilot maneuvered the glider to avoid a canal. The glider landed hard, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he mistakenly released from the tow at 4,000 feet msl, when he should have released at 4,000 feet agl. He also stated that the glider had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.