What happened
A Schweizer glider bearing registration N33920 was involved in an accident at Preble Airport in New York. The incident occurred while the aircraft was executing a go-around maneuver. During the approach, the pilot reported that the stall speed appeared higher than normal, suggesting the aircraft was entering a stall at a speed exceeding manual recommendations. Attempts to apply spoilers failed to correct the airspeed. The pilot later indicated that he may have inadvertently pulled the trim tab control instead of the spoiler lever. Upon landing, the glider bounced. During the subsequent pull-up, the left wing tip struck a utility pole. The aircraft then descended into trees before sliding flatly to the ground.
The investigation
The examination of the event focused on the pilot's account of the flight phases and control inputs. The pilot stated that the first two flights were uneventful but noted anomalous stall characteristics during the final approach. The mechanical integrity of the aircraft was compromised by the collision with the utility pole and subsequent impact with trees.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident included the misapplication of flight controls, specifically the potential confusion between trim tab and spoiler controls. This error occurred during a critical phase of flight where airspeed management was already compromised by an unexpected stall condition. The collision with the utility pole resulted in the destruction of the glider. Despite the severity of the structural damage, the occupants sustained only minor injuries. The pilot and passenger were not injured severely enough to prevent them from exiting the wreckage safely.
Safety message
This incident highlights the importance of precise control identification during high-workload phases of flight, particularly when dealing with unexpected aerodynamic anomalies such as altered stall speeds. Pilots must remain vigilant against control confusion, especially when executing go-arounds or managing energy states near stall boundaries.