Schweizer SGS233 N1242S

Summary

On 20 May 2017 at about 19:45 local time, a Schweizer SGS233 registered N1242S was involved in an accident near Springfield, Vermont, United States. 2 people were 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

20 May 2017 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Hartness State (Springfield) (VSF)

Coordinates

43.3436, -72.5172

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS233

Registration

N1242S

Category

Glider

Year built

1971

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA298

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the glider landing short of the runway in trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during the turn to final approach, the glider appeared to be above glidepath, so the student pilot used dive brakes to descend. He added that, once the glider returned to a normal glidepath, the student retracted the dive brakes, but the glider continued in a "higher than normal" descent rate. The flight instructor took control of the glider and landed short of the intended runway in trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit a written statement after multiple requests.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.