Schweizer SGS 2-33A N2805H

Summary

On 15 August 2021 at about 22:41 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A registered N2805H, operated by Civil Air Patrol, was involved in an accident near North Springfield, Vermont, 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

15 August 2021 at 22:41

Classification

Accident

Location

North Springfield, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Hartness State (Springfield) (VSF)

Coordinates

43.3530, -72.5062

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Registration

N2805H

Category

Glider

Year built

1978

Operator

Civil Air Patrol

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA330

Nobody was injured.

The check pilot's failure to account for the extended departure distance from the airport during a simulated tow rope break and recovery.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two glider pilots were conducting a simulated rope break from 200ft above ground level (AGL). The glider pilot had requested the tow pilot sidestep right on upwind further than normal to allow for enough distance between the upwind leg and the runway. After a normal takeoff, the tow pilot sidestepped further right than the previous flights. After the tow rope was released, the glider pilot made a steep turn back toward the runway and realized that the runway was beyond glide distance. The pilot elected to land the glider in a clear area beside a dirt road, but during the landing, the left wing impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.