2007-10-15: Schweizer SGS 2-33A — Tehachapi, CA

Casualties unknown • Tehachapi, CA, US

Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to an undershoot, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

This was the pilot's first solo glider flight. He made a standard entry into the traffic pattern for a landing approach. He noted some turbulence that caused a decrease in altitude. On the final leg, the pilot attempted a slight correction to align with the runway. The right wing tip collided with a wire fence and the glider came to rest facing the fence approximately 50 feet short of the runway. The instructor of the accident pilot, and several witnesses, noted that the traffic pattern was flown lower than normal. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2007-10-15 Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Tehachapi, CA?

This was the pilot's first solo glider flight. He made a standard entry into the traffic pattern for a landing approach. He noted some turbulence that caused a decrease in altitude. On the final leg, the pilot attempted a slight correction to align with the runway. The right wing tip collided with a wire fence and…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2007-10-15 involved a Schweizer SGS 2-33A, registration N17888, at Tehachapi, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to an undershoot, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20071119X01815. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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