Sky Soaring Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hampshire, Illinois 60140
Monday, September 2, 2013 16:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported his glider was about one mile from his destination airport and thought he had enough altitude to make the field, but then he encountered a sink rate. He realized that he would not be able to clear power lines at the edge of the runway so the student pilot decided to make an off field landing in a large open field bordered by several obstructions. During the landing the right wing struck a small tree when the glider was still several feet above ground. The glider landed abruptly and the impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot added that the accident could have been prevented if he had earlier recognized the need to land out and if he had prepared for the event at a higher altitude.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for landing area conditions during an off-airport landing which resulted in a collision with an obstruction.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/2013
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1625
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Hampshire
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60140
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420849N
Event Location Longitude 0883057W
Event Location Airport SKY SOARING
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 55LL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 204
Airport Elevation 884
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 214
Weather Observation Facility ID KDKB
Elevation of weather observation facility 915
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32182
NTSB Notification Source Direct notification to NTSB fr
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 22 2013 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2668H
NTSB Number CEN13CA573
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 2 33A
Aircraft Series Identifier UNDESIGNAT
Aircraft Serial Number 438
Certified Max Gross Weight 1040
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 Jul 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SKY SOARING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12020 ROUTE 20
Aircraft Owner City HAMPSHIRE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60140
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name DONALD J KNEESHAW
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ALGONQUIN
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60102
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 55LL
Departure City Hampshire
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1602
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 55LL
Destination City Hampshire
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 22 2013 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --