Schweizer SGS 2 33A N2668H

Summary

On 2 September 2013 at about 21:25 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2 33A registered N2668H was involved in an accident near Hampshire, Illinois, 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

2 September 2013 at 21:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Hampshire, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Sky Soaring (55LL)

Coordinates

42.1469, -88.5158

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2 33A

Registration

N2668H

Category

Glider

Year built

1976

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hampshire → Hampshire

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA573

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for landing area conditions during an off-airport landing which resulted in a collision with an obstruction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported his glider was about one mile from his destination airport and thought he had enough altitude to make the field, but then he encountered a sink rate. He realized that he would not be able to clear power lines at the edge of the runway so the student pilot decided to make an off field landing in a large open field bordered by several obstructions. During the landing the right wing struck a small tree when the glider was still several feet above ground. The glider landed abruptly and the impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot added that the accident could have been prevented if he had earlier recognized the need to land out and if he had prepared for the event at a higher altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.