Schweizer SGS126 N17933

Summary

On 11 March 2017 at about 18:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS126 registered N17933 was involved in an accident near Bangor, Pennsylvania, 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.

Date

11 March 2017 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bangor, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.9461, -75.2033

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS126

Registration

N17933

Category

Glider

Year built

1973

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blairstown → Blairstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA196

Nobody was injured.

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that, while returning to his home airport, he was unable to find enough lift and did not have enough altitude to cross a section of land called "The Gap." After he altered course to land at an alternate airport, he attempted to ridge soar but again did not encounter enough lift. He "hugged the ridge top" for as long as he could and then proceeded down a valley in anticipation of landing in a field. Subsequently, the glider collided with trees preceding the field and came to rest suspended in the trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to both wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.