Schweizer SGS 1-35 accident near Wurtsboro, NY
On June 6, 2021, a Schweizer SGS 1-35 (glider) was involved in an accident near Wurtsboro, NY. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 6, 2021
- Place
- Wurtsboro, NY
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-35 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.597°N, 74.458°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210606103217
Official records · ERA21FA239
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 6, 2021, about 1249 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-35 glider, N2878H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wurtsboro, New York. The private pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the towplane pilot, the accident pilot owned the glider, and the accident flight was his first flight in the glider. The wing runner who helped launch the glider reported that the accident pilot stated that he was hesitant, as it was his first flight in the glider. During initial climb from runway 23, about 100 to 200 ft above ground level (agl), the glider pilot released the tow rope and began a 45° bank right turn back toward the airport. About 90° through the turn, the nose dropped straight down. The glider started to pull up but was still about 60° nose down when it impacted a ramp area, slid across a taxiway, and came to rest on a grass area between the taxiway and runway. A different pilot flew the accident glider the previous day and reported that it flew well. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe glider came to rest upright, oriented south, about 100 feet east of the initial impact point. The wings and empennage remained attached, while the fuselage partially separated in a downward direction, just aft of the wings. The cockpit area was crushed, and the control stick separated consistent with impact forces. The canopy frame remained attached to the fuselage, but the windscreen had shattered. Flight control continuity was established from
Probable cause
The pilot’s low-altitude release from tow for reasons that could not be determined, and his subsequent exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack while returning to the runway, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
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Browse: New York · 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.
