Schweizer SGS 1-35 N2878H

Summary

On 6 June 2021 at about 16:49 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-35 registered N2878H was involved in an accident near Wurtsboro, New York, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2021 at 16:49

Classification

Accident

Location

Wurtsboro, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Wurtsboro-Sullivan County (N82)

Coordinates

41.5971, -74.4583

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-35

Registration

N2878H

Category

Glider

Year built

1977

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21FA239

1 person died.

The pilot’s low-altitude release from tow for reasons that could not be determined, and his subsequent exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack while returning to the runway, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident flight was the pilot’s first flight in the glider make/model, and he indicated to the wing runner that he was “hesitant” about the flight. Witness statements and recorded data indicated that, just after takeoff, the glider released from the tow plane about 170 ft above ground level, while in a 25° right turn over the runway departure end. The glider continued the right turn and stalled about 1.4 seconds later, impacting airport property 13 seconds after the stall. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Toxicology testing revealed the presence of the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in cardiac blood and urine, indicating that the pilot had taken some allergy, cold, or sleep-aid medication before the accident. Even considering two-to-three-fold postmortem redistribution of diphenhydramine, the concentration in the pilot’s blood appeared to be at therapeutic levels. Compared to other antihistamines, diphenhydramine causes marked sedation; impaired cognitive and psychomotor performance may also be observed. While the impairing medication diphenhydramine was detected, it is unlikely that the effects from the pilot’s use of diphenhydramine contributed to this accident. Although the reason for the pilot’s release from tow at low altitude could not be determined, the accident is consistent with his failure to maintain airspeed during the turn back to the runway, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.