Glider sustained substantial damage during landing overshoot

Casualties unknown • Highland, IL, US

A glider experienced a ground loop after an attempted 180-degree turn following an overshoot, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.

What happened

During a landing attempt, a glider sustained substantial damage upon contact with the terrain. The flight involved a pilot candidate and an FAA examiner, both of whom were not injured.

The pilot candidate reported that the base leg was turned too early, which resulted in the aircraft being too high on final approach. In an attempt to correct the altitude, the pilot tried to slip the aircraft, but the excess altitude persisted. As the aircraft traveled down the runway, it became apparent that an overshoot of the runway was imminent.

At that point, the FAA examiner took control of the aircraft and attempted to execute a 180-degree turn while instructing the pilot to monitor the airspeed. During this maneuver, the aircraft continued the turn with the right wing down. The aircraft caught a bank, which caused the glider to ground loop. The aircraft came to rest facing west. Following the event, the occupants exited the aircraft and confirmed they were unhurt.

At the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 6 knots.

Probable cause

The pilot's premature turn from base leg to final approach left the aircraft too high, leading to an overshoot and a subsequent ground loop during an attempted 180-degree turn.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2000-10-11 Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Highland, IL?

A glider experienced a ground loop after an attempted 180-degree turn following an overshoot, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2000-10-11 involved a Schweizer SGS 2-33A, registration N2060T, at Highland, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's premature turn from base leg to final approach left the aircraft too high, leading to an overshoot and a subsequent ground loop during an attempted 180-degree turn.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X22120. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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