Schweizer SGS 2-32 N87R

Summary

On 9 October 2021 at about 23:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 registered N87R, operated by Hollister Soaring Center LLC, was involved in an accident near San Juan Baptista, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 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

9 October 2021 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

San Juan Baptista, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hollister Muni (CVH)

Coordinates

36.8580, -121.4984

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-32

Registration

N87R

Category

Glider

Year built

1966

Operator

Hollister Soaring Center LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hollister → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA007

2 people were seriously injured.

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the glider reported that, while on a sightseeing flight with two passengers, about 10 minutes into the flight, the glider encountered an area with a loss of lift. He turned toward an area where lift was expected; however, the glider continued to descend. The pilot stated that there was not sufficient altitude to reach the airport, and he elected to land on a dirt road. During the landing flare, about 4-5 ft above ground level (agl), the glider abruptly yawed to the left due to a collision with an object and dropped onto the dirt road in a flat attitude; the glider bounced once and then came to rest upright on the dirt road. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.