Schweizer SGS 2-33A N17903

Summary

On 28 October 2023 at about 20:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A registered N17903, operated by Harris Hill Soaring Corp, was involved in an accident near Elmira, New York, 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

28 October 2023 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Elmira, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Harris Hill (4NY8)

Coordinates

42.1209, -76.9011

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Registration

N17903

Category

Glider

Year built

1973

Operator

Harris Hill Soaring Corp

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA029

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath for a landing on the intended runway, which resulted in an off-airport landing and impact with soft terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

At the conclusion of the glider flight, the pilot entered the left airport traffic pattern for landing, but the wind conditions had changed, so he maneuvered to the right traffic pattern. While on approach, the glider was too high, so he extended the dive brakes and attempted to slip the glider, but he was unable to lose enough altitude for a safe landing on the runway, and elected to land on an adjacent field. During touchdown, the nose of the glider dug into the soft terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical issues that precluded normal operation or performance and that he was “just too high” and unable to safely land on the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.