ZIONSVILLE, IN, USA
N600JP
Schweizer SGS 1-26E
Witnesses reported that the glider was airborne about 30 minutes before the accident occurred. They reported seeing the glider '...too low and too far away' to make a landing at the airport. The pilot radioed over the UNICOM frequency that he was 'low and in trouble,' and he was advised by one individual over UNICOM to look for a 'suitable field to land in.' Witnesses reported seeing the glider in '... level flight, heading south/southwest...and then made a right turn to the north.' They stated the pilot radioed that he was '...going down...' and during a shallow turn '...the aircraft stalled and spun about 2 times....' The glider impacted at a 70 degree, nose down angle and came to rest inverted. All control cables were intact, and flight control continuity was confirmed. The pilot had 1 hour of flight time in this make and model of glider.
On August 22, 1997, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E glider, N600JP, operated by the Central Indiana Soaring Society, was destroyed when it stalled and spun into the ground near Zionsville, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot sustained serious injuries. In his written statement the pilot stated he has "...no memory of the flight or the accident." The pilot said he only remembers "...winding the barograph prior to the flight" and then being in the hospital. Witnesses said the pilot was airborne for approximately 30 minutes before the accident occurred. The accident occurred approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the Terry Airport. Witnesses stated that they saw the glider "...too low and too far away" to make a landing at the airport. It is reported that the pilot then radioed over the Unicom frequency that he was "low and in trouble." The pilot was advised by one individual over Unicom to look for a "suitable field to land in." Witnesses stated that the glider was in "... level flight heading south/southwest...and then made a right turn to the north." According to witnesses, the pilot then radioed that he was "...going down... ." The pilot was advised by a club member to choose a bean field. A witness said that the aircraft "...began a slow, shallow right hand turn, but the aircraft stalled and spun about 2 times... ." According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the glider impacted at approximately a 70 degree nose down angle and came to rest inverted. All control cables were intact and flight control continuity was confirmed. The pilot had one hour of flight time in this make and model of glider.
failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and subsequent spin. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in this make and model of glider.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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