No fatalities

29 Jun 2019: Schweizer SGS233 A — Jersey Ridge Soaring LLC — Blairstown, NJ

Blairstown, NJ, United States

On 29 Jun 2019, a Schweizer SGS233 A operated by Jersey Ridge Soaring LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Blairstown, NJ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing and the instructor sustaining a serious injury. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A glider flight instructor sustained serious injury when the glider landed hard after the student pilot flared too high, following an evasive maneuver to avoid a gyrocopter lifting off on final approach.

Accident Details

A glider flight instructor reported that, while on final approach for a grass field adjacent to a runway, a gyrocopter lifted off towards the glider. At the time, the student pilot was on the controls. The student maneuvered the glider away from the gyrocopter, then continued the approach.

Sequence of Events

During the landing, the student flared too high. Despite the instructor's intervention, the glider landed hard. The glider itself was not damaged in the incident.

Injuries

The flight instructor sustained a serious injury as a result of the hard landing. No other injuries were reported.

Aircraft Information

The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Student/instructed pilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintainedInstructor/check pilot