Schweizer SGS 2-33A N17901

Summary

On 12 July 1998 at about 16:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A registered N17901 was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, 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

12 July 1998 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Indianapolis Terry Airpor (TYQ)

Coordinates

39.7702, -86.1095

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Registration

N17901

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98LA268

Nobody was injured.

the delayed in-flight decision of the pilot in command to take control of the aircraft and the proper airspeed not obtained/maintained by the pilot in command which resulted in a stall. A factor to the accident was the runway light.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor stated that when they turned base to final they were approximately 250' above ground level (agl). The CFI told the student to use 'Full' spoilers to bring the aircraft back on a normal glide path to the runway. The CFI stated that at approximately 100' agl the student had 'Full' spoilers deployed and had an excessive nose down attitude. The CFI told the student 'Close' the spoilers and bring the nose up to reduce the excessive airspeed. The CFI stated that the student began to bring the nose up, without closing the spoilers, and that he took control of the aircraft at this point. The CFI closed the spoilers completely but the aircraft was already entering a stall. The CFI stated that he reduced the angle of attack in order to regain airspeed and then flared close to the ground. The CFI stated that the aircraft 'Pancaked-in, a landing hard enough to throw me into the shoulder straps and my head down so that briefly I could not see outside.' The aircraft drifted to right side of the runway and the right wing impacted a runway light before coming to a stop.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.