Miller Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alliance, Ohio 44601
Saturday, September 1, 2007 15:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he normally sets the altimeter to zero prior to takeoff. The pilot reported that he was distracted during the preflight and he forgot to reset the altimeter which was set to field elevation, approximately 1,000 feet. This resulted in the pilot releasing from the tow 1,000 feet lower than what he thought he was. The pilot stated the glider hit the tops of trees while on final approach.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inattentiveness during the aircraft preflight and his failure to maintain clearance above the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Alliance
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44601
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405854N
Event Location Longitude 0810231W
Event Location Airport Miller Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID K4G3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1070
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1451 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KCAK
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.25
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22447
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2007 7:09AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office CLE FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65832
NTSB Number CHI07CA291
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model SGS 2-33A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 312
Certified Max Gross Weight 1040
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Cleveland Soaring Society
Aircraft Owner Street Address c/o Joan Whitten
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 10122 Bell Road
Operator City Newbury
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 44065
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code K4G3
Departure City Alliance
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code K4G3
Destination City Alliance
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 11 2007 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 2912
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --