Elmira/Corning Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elmira, New York 14905
Saturday, August 25, 1984 16:18 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

VERY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT 150 TO 200 FT THE TOW ROPE FAILED. THE GLIDER INITIATED A STEEP LEFT TURN BACK TO THE ARPT. DURING THE TURN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT TO STALL AND ENTER AN UNCONTROLLED NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT TO GROUND IMPACT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1618
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ELMIRA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14905
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ELMIRA/CORNING
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ELM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 955
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1618 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID ELM
Elevation of weather observation facility 955
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1810
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 25689
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3622E
NTSB Number NYC84FFJ04
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model SGS 1-36
Aircraft Series Identifier SGS 1-36
Aircraft Serial Number 42
Certified Max Gross Weight 710
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 7 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 289
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 147
Aircraft Owner City ELMIRA
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14902
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WARREN V.HOXIE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 721 W. CHURCH STREET
Operator City ELMIRA
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 14905
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ELM
Departure City ELMIRA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ELM
Destination City ELMIRA
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 2020
Runway Width 180
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --