Schweizer SGS 2-32 N9929J

Summary

On 29 November 2012 at about 19:45 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 registered N9929J, operated by Soaring Society of Boulder Inc, was involved in an accident near Boulder, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 November 2012 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.0633, -105.4558

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-32

Registration

N9929J

Category

Glider

Operator

Soaring Society of Boulder Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boulder → Boulder

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA079

1 person had minor injuries.

The glider pilot's inability to locate an area of thermal lift.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The towplane released the glider at an altitude of about 11,200 feet above mean sea level (msl). The glider then entered an area of lift, which increased the altitude to 14,500 msl. The pilot continued westbound encountering areas of lift and sink. The pilot reported that they were unable to find an area of lift again and the descent rate increased to over 1,000 feet per minute (fpm). The flight instructor on board took over control of the glider and turned back toward the east hoping to find the area of lift that they had encountered earlier in the flight. The flight instructor stated the lift did not materialize and they encountered sink rates of up to 1,600 fpm. The flight instructor located a field in which to land. The flight instructor maneuvered the glider to align with the field and avoid houses as the sink rate continued to be about 1,000 fpm. The left wing contacted a power line, which spun the glider around 180 degrees prior to it coming to rest about 200 feet short of the intended landing area. The glider received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.