Pilot Debrief

SCHWEIZER SGS126 near Moscow, TN — 2016-11-17

Final reportERA17LA048
Sign in to save
Date
2016-11-17
Location
Moscow, TN, USA
Airport
4TN3
Aircraft
SCHWEIZER SGS126
Registration
N65968
Category
Glider
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

NTSB narrative

A tow plane pilot on the ground reported that he watched the glider fly for about 20 minutes after it was released from the tow plane. After the glider turned onto the left downwind approach to land and while about 300 ft above ground level (agl), he saw the glider enter a right 360° turn while on the base leg, followed shortly after by a 180° right turn. The glider then entered an aerodynamic stall/spin from about 100 ft agl and descended into trees. Although the glider pilot stated that he was unable to recall the sequence of events that occurred after entering the traffic pattern, he did not believe that there were any mechanical anomalies with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the glider's critical angle of attack, which resulted in the aerodynamic stall/spin.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the 360-degree turn that led to loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

Related mishaps