Summary
On May 13, 2018, a Schweizer SGS123 (N9915J) was involved in an incident near Tunbridge, VT. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student glider’s inability to maintain altitude due to a loss of thermal lift, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
The solo student glider pilot reported that, during the return flight to the airport, he was unable to find enough lift and did not have enough altitude to cross a section of forest between his location and the airport. After he selected a field for landing, during the base leg turn, he determined that he did not have enough altitude to clear a line of trees at the threshold of the field. He then continued straight ahead, parallel to the line of trees, and impacted the ground in a small clearing.
The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA283. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9915J.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student glider’s inability to maintain altitude due to a loss of thermal lift, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The solo student glider pilot reported that, during the return flight to the airport, he was unable to find enough lift and did not have enough altitude to cross a section of forest between his location and the airport. After he selected a field for landing, during the base leg turn, he determined that he did not have enough altitude to clear a line of trees at the threshold of the field. He then continued straight ahead, parallel to the line of trees, and impacted the ground in a small clearing.
The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA283