Plane Crash List

Schweizer SGS-1-35C N2880H

12 November 1989 · Paint Bank, Virginia, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 12 November 1989 at about 22:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-35C registered N2880H, operated by Steven D. Stigler, was involved in an accident near Paint Bank, Virginia, 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.

The record

Date
at 22:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Paint Bank, Virginia, United States
Coordinates
37.5593, -80.2791
Aircraft
Schweizer SGS-1-35C
Registration
N2880H
Category
Glider
Operator
Steven D. Stigler
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Buchanan → Tazwell
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
BFO90LA021

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH LED TO AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AFTER ENCOUNTERING DETERIORATING LIFT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ENROUTE THE PLT ELECTED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE ARPT DUE TO DETERIORATING LIFT CONDITIONS. CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND THE PLT DIVERTED TO A CLOSER ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT TWO MOUNTAIN RIDGES HAD TO BE CROSSED TO REACH THE ARPT. HE WAS ABLE TO CROSS ONE RIDGE; HOWEVER, INSUFFICIENT LIFT REMAINED TO CLEAR THE SECOND RIDGE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE AND THE GLIDER WAS LANDED IN TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Schweizer SGS-1 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
23 Jul 1989 Schweizer SGS 1-26E
N65943
Alabaster, Alabama, United States - No injuries -
23 Jul 1989 Schweizer SGS 1-26C
N9944J
Ms State Univ, Mississippi, United States State College Glider Club, Inc No injuries -
14 Aug 1990 Schweizer SGS 1-35
N34461
Erwinna, Pennsylvania, United States Richard Allen Giboney Minor injuries -
23 May 1990 Schweizer SGS 1-26
N15SH
Waialua, Hawaii, United States Soar Hawaii, Ltd. No injuries -
7 Aug 1988 Schweizer SGS 1-34
N65920
Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States - Serious injuries -
4 Jun 1990 Schweizer SGS 1-26B
N2423W
Truckee, California, United States
approximate position
Robert L. Tanner Fatal 1

All 127 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Jun 1989 Piper PA-28-180
N33320
Ashland, Virginia, United States
approximate position
A & S Flying Services Fatal 1
17 Mar 1989 Halstead SANDPIPER
N339RH
Chesapeake, Virginia, United States - No injuries -
2 Sep 1989 Rotorway EXEC
N27TB
Palmyra, Virginia, United States - Serious injuries -
3 Mar 1989 Beechcraft V35TC
N27FH
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Ruffin K. Harris Fatal 1
11 Mar 1989 Beechcraft A60
N98DS
Manassas, Virginia, United States
approximate position
RTS Service Inc. Fatal 5
24 Mar 1989 Learjet 25
N29FN
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Flight International, Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States