Schweizer SGS 1-26E N2517H
17 June 2021 · Willimantic, Connecticut, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 17 June 2021 at about 15:35 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E registered N2517H, operated by Connecticut Soaring Association, was involved in an accident near Willimantic, Connecticut, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 15:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Willimantic, Connecticut, United States
- Nearest airport
- Windham Airport (IJD)
- Coordinates
- 41.7369, -72.1818
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-26E
- Registration
- N2517H
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 1976
- Operator
- Connecticut Soaring Association
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA21LA276
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of the student to achieve the proper touchdown point resulting in landing undershoot.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The student pilot was towed aloft and released at 3,000 ft above ground level (agl) two miles south of the airport. After practicing air-work south of the airport with no thermal activity, the flight encountered 2 episodes of significant sink (-1,000 ft/min). With a wind from the northwest at 8 knots, he proceeded for a straight-in approach to runway 36 (nearest runway). When the glider was on a 1-mile final for the runway, a 3rd episode of severe sink was encountered. Realizing he would be unable to reach the runway, the pilot executed a low-energy touchdown on the shoulder of a road about 800 ft from the runway threshold. Postaccident examination of the glider and the submitted NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident report confirmed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot recommended performing airwork upwind of the airport.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schweizer SGS-1 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2021 | Schweizer SGS 1-35 | Wurtsboro, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Jun 2021 | Schweizer SGS 1-35 | Wellington, Colorado, United States | Smith Leonard I III | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Schweizer SGS 1-26D | Windsor, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 2023 | Schweizer SGS 1-26E | Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States | North Carolina Soaring Association | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 2024 | Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 | Chouteau, Oklahoma, United States | Tulsa Skyhawks Soaring Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 May 2018 | Schweizer SGS 1 26 | Springfield, Vermont, United States | New England Soaring Association Inc | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 2021 | Kitfox IV | North Canaan, Connecticut, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 2021 | Cessna 560 | Farmington, Connecticut, United States | Brook Haven Properties LLC | Fatal | 4 |
| 13 Jun 2021 | Cessna 172R | Groton, Connecticut, United States | Arrow Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 2021 | Beechcraft F33A | Oxford, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 2020 | Socata TB200 | Simsbury, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2022 | Bellanca 7KCAB | East Haddam, Connecticut, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |