Schweizer SGS126 N65968
17 November 2016 · Moscow, Tennessee, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 17 November 2016 at about 20:30 local time, a Schweizer SGS126 registered N65968 was involved in an accident near Moscow, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Moscow, Tennessee, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hawks Nest (4TN3)
- Coordinates
- 35.1286, -89.3558
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS126
- Registration
- N65968
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 1974
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Moscow → Moscow
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA17LA048
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A tow plane pilot on the ground reported that he watched the glider fly for about 20 minutes after it was released from the tow plane. After the glider turned onto the left downwind approach to land and while about 300 ft above ground level (agl), he saw the glider enter a right 360° turn while on the base leg, followed shortly after by a 180° right turn. The glider then entered an aerodynamic stall/spin from about 100 ft agl and descended into trees. Although the glider pilot stated that he was unable to recall the sequence of events that occurred after entering the traffic pattern, he did not believe that there were any mechanical anomalies with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the glider's critical angle of attack, which resulted in the aerodynamic stall/spin.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer SGS126 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 2017 | Schweizer SGS126 | Bangor, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1981 | Schweizer SGS126 | Arlington, Washington, United States | U.wash.soaring | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Oct 1981 | Schweizer SGS126 | Monticello, Illinois, United States | Univ of Illino | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 1980 | Schweizer SGS126 | Issaquah, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1980 | Schweizer SGS126 | Mt Salem, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1980 | Schweizer SGS126 | Oahu, Hawaii, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 2016 | Cessna A185 | Fayetteville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Apr 2016 | Bell 206 | Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States | Great Smoky Mountain Helicopters Inc | Fatal | 5 |
| 18 Jun 2016 | Mooney M20 | Clifton, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 2016 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2016 | Piper PA28 | Madisonville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 2016 | Bell 407 | Mountain City, Tennessee, United States | PHI Air Medical | Minor injuries | - |