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November 7, 1993 · Schweizer SGS 2-33A · N1178S

Morrisville, VT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 7, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Morrisville, VT
Aircraft
Schweizer SGS 2-33A
Tail Number
N1178S
Operator
Peter H Smyth
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO94LA003

ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT, HE WAS SOARING OVER THE MOUNTAINS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS GAINING AND LOSING ABOUT 200 FEET OF ALTITUDE AS THE GLIDER SOARED OVER THE RIDGE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH; HOWEVER, ON THE LAST TRAVERSE THE GLIDER LOST LIFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE HIGH TERRAIN AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD MORE EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN SOARING.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN SOARING WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE RIDGE AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE HIGH TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

On Sunday, November 7, 1993, at 1200 eastern standard time, N1178S, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider, owned by Peter Smyth of Morrisville, Vermont, and piloted by Allan Edwards collided with a ridge 3 miles east of the Morrisville-Stow Airport, Morrisville, Vermont. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local, instructional flight originated in Morrisville, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot said he was soaring over the mountain, heading north to south and gaining and losing about 200 feet of altitude as he soared. The student pilot reported that, "on the last traverse I lost lift over a shelf and within a few seconds was down...but there was insufficient lift or momentum to turn away from the mountain." The glider collided with trees on the side of the ridge. The student pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and the accident could have been prevented if he had more experience in mountain soaring.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchweizer SGS 2-33A
Tail NumberN1178S
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPeter H Smyth
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data