SCHWEIZER SGS 1-36
Jacksonville, FL, May 28, 2010
Event Information
| Date | May 28, 2010 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Jacksonville, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 30.21861, -81.87666 |
| Airport | Cecil Field Airport |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
| NTSB Number | ERA10CA291 |
| Event ID | 20100601X10226 |
Aircraft
| Make | SCHWEIZER |
| Model | SGS 1-36 |
| Registration # | N36204 |
| Operator | NFSS INC |
| Owner | NFSS INC |
| Category | GLI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The glider pilot’s delayed decision to divert following a loss of thermal lift.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated that his glider was towed to 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for a local soaring flight. He climbed the glider to 6,000 feet in a training area about 13 miles from the departure airport, where he "encountered sink." The pilot then obtained a landing clearance at an airport about 8 miles from his position, but the glider continued to sink, and struck an airport perimeter fence short of the landing runway. The off-airport landing resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage structures. According to the glider's Pilot Operating Manual, the maximum glide ratio at maximum gross weight was 31:1. The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.