Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 N8667R

Summary

On 8 June 2024 at about 16:30 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 registered N8667R, operated by Tulsa Skyhawks Soaring Club, was involved in an accident near Chouteau, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2024 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chouteau, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Mid-America Industrial Airport (H71)

Coordinates

36.2254, -95.3301

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15

Registration

N8667R

Category

Glider

Year built

1963

Operator

Tulsa Skyhawks Soaring Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chouteau → Chouteau

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN24LA219

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider while landing. Contributing to the accident was the unclear communications between the student pilot and instructor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student glider pilot reported that while conducting an approach to runway 18, he noted that another glider was staged on the runway. The student made a radio call advising that he would land on the grass between taxiway A3 and A4. The instructor on the ground radioed to the student pilot to “land short”. The student pilot stated that he interpreted the instruction to land short of his intended landing point between taxiways A2 and A3 and initiated a forward slip. The instructor radioed to clarify that he meant to land short on the runway behind the other glider. The student pilot attempted to extend his glide to make his first intended landing point between taxiways A3 and A4. He stated that he did not think he could make the A3 and A4 taxiways and extended his dive brake and spoilers to land between A2 and A3. The student pilot reported that about that time a wind gust stopped and the glider lost airspeed and developed a significant sink rate. The glider landed hard which resulted in serious injury to the student pilot and minor damage to the glider. The towplane pilot located on the runway at the taxiway A3 intersection reported that he saw the glider lose its forward motion and drop in a flat attitude to the ground. Based on the pilot and witness statement it is likely that the glider stalled while landing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.