History of Flight
On June 6, 2021, about 1249 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-35 glider, N2878H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wurtsboro, New York. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The towplane pilot reported that the accident pilot owned the glider and the accident flight was his first flight in that glider. A wing runner who helped launch the glider stated that the accident pilot expressed hesitation because it was his first flight. During initial climb from runway 23, about 100 to 200 ft above ground level, the glider pilot released the tow rope and began a 45° bank right turn back toward the airport. About 90° through the turn, the nose dropped straight down. The glider started to pull up but was still about 60° nose down when it impacted a ramp area, slid across a taxiway, and came to rest on a grass area between the taxiway and runway. A different pilot flew the accident glider the previous day and reported that it flew well.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The glider came to rest upright, oriented south, about 100 ft east of the initial impact point. The wings and empennage remained attached, while the fuselage partially separated in a downward direction, just aft of the wings. The cockpit area was crushed, and the control stick separated consistent with impact forces. The canopy frame remained attached to the fuselage, but the windscreen had shattered. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flaps, ailerons, elevator, and rudder. The preimpact position of the flaps could not be determined. The tow release mechanism functioned normally when tested. The tow rope and its attachment hardware were intact.
Additional Information
Review of data downloaded from an onboard device revealed that the accident flight, including the tow, lasted about 1 minute. The glider was towed for approximately 45 seconds until it released at 1248:51.0 while in a 25° right turn about 170 ft agl over the runway 23 departure end. The glider stalled approximately 1.4 seconds later, at 1248:52.4, and impacted airport property about 1249:5.0.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on the pilot by the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing by the Federal Aviation Administration detected the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in the pilot’s cardiac blood at 112 ng/mL and in his urine. The anesthetic drug ketamine and its metabolite norketamine were detected in cardiac blood and urine; ketamine is used in resuscitation. Ibuprofen was also detected. Diphenhydramine is available over the counter and carries a warning that use may impair mental and physical ability for hazardous tasks. The therapeutic range is 25 to 100 ng/mL, with a half-life of 3 to 4 hours. FAA guidance recommends a 60-hour post-dose observation time before flying.