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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 15, 1987 · Schweizer SGS-1-34 · N7653

Dansville, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 15, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Dansville, NY
Aircraft
Schweizer SGS-1-34
Tail Number
N7653
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC87LA233

THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS SEAT BELT WITH THE CANOPY OPEN, THE GLIDER BEGAN BEING PULLED BY THE TOW PILOTS ACFT. HE MANEUVERED THE WING TIP CLEAR OF SOME PARKED ACFT, GRABBED THE CANOPY HATCH, AND HELD IT SHUT DURING THE TKOF. THE COCKPIT CHECK HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED AND THE DIVE BRAKES WERE UNLOCKED AND INADVERTENTLY LEFT OPEN DURING THE TKOF. WITH THE GLIDER IN THIS CONFIGURATION, IT WOULD NOT CLIMB SO THE TOW PLT CIRCLED THE FLD AND GAVE A MANDATORY WAVE OFF SIGNAL WHILE AT ABT 400 FT. THE GLIDER PLT TURNED 180 DEGREES IN AN EFFORT TO LND DOWNWIND BUT ENTERED A STALL. DURING THE RECOVERY THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE GLIDER PLT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. HE HAD OVER 51 HOURS LOGGED IN GLIDERS OF WHICH 6 WERE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

Full Narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS SEAT BELT WITH THE CANOPY OPEN, THE GLIDER BEGAN BEING PULLED BY THE TOW PILOTS ACFT. HE MANEUVERED THE WING TIP CLEAR OF SOME PARKED ACFT, GRABBED THE CANOPY HATCH, AND HELD IT SHUT DURING THE TKOF. THE COCKPIT CHECK HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED AND THE DIVE BRAKES WERE UNLOCKED AND INADVERTENTLY LEFT OPEN DURING THE TKOF. WITH THE GLIDER IN THIS CONFIGURATION, IT WOULD NOT CLIMB SO THE TOW PLT CIRCLED THE FLD AND GAVE A MANDATORY WAVE OFF SIGNAL WHILE AT ABT 400 FT. THE GLIDER PLT TURNED 180 DEGREES IN AN EFFORT TO LND DOWNWIND BUT ENTERED A STALL. DURING THE RECOVERY THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE GLIDER PLT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. HE HAD OVER 51 HOURS LOGGED IN GLIDERS OF WHICH 6 WERE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 EDT
Nearest AirportDansville (0nm N)
Runway14
Runway Length3635 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchweizer SGS-1-34
Tail NumberN7653
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsNone · NONE · Unknown
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 20 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time16:15
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data