Schweizer SGS 2 32 accident near Morrisville, VT
On August 29, 2018, a Schweizer SGS 2 32 (glider) was involved in an accident near Morrisville, VT. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 29, 2018
- Place
- Morrisville, VT
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2 32 · Glider
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 44.593°N, 72.746°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180831X03709
Official records · ERA18FA238
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 29, 2018, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider, N17970, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Morristown, Vermont. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local sightseeing flight. According to the tow pilot, the purpose of the flight was to provide a 30-minute sightseeing tour to two passengers in the 3-place glider. After takeoff, he climbed the airplane to 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl), where the glider pilot released from the tow. The glider turned westbound toward Spruce Creek and Sterling Pond, Morristown, Vermont. The tow pilot returned to the airport and did not visually monitor the flight of the glider. A witness who was hiking near Sterling Pond saw the tow plane and glider in flight and photographed the aircraft while the glider was on tow and after its release. The witness reported to local police that the tow plane made a "slingshot" turn and the glider released from the tow. He watched the glider fly away and "disappear" into the clouds. The tow pilot stated that, when the glider had not returned after 45 minutes, an attempt was made to reach the pilot by radio, without success. After numerous attempts over multiple radios and by cell phone, airport personnel notified the local 911 operator of the missing glider, and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Alert Notice was subsequently issued. The tow pilot and another local pilot began an aerial search, and at 1756, the glider was identified from
Probable cause
The pilot's exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the glider outside of its published weight limitations.
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Browse: Vermont · Schweizer aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
