Skip to content

GAA19CA469

2019-07-26 · Wurtsboro, New York, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport N82

Current FAA registration · N57LK

Make / Model
SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS 2A
Year of manufacture
2002 · 17 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20021203
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A74D14

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to properly secure the glider’s canopy before flight, which resulted in it opening in flight and the pilot's inability to maintain an appropriate final approach path and altitude, which resulted in impact with a shipping container.

Factual narrative

The glider pilot reported that, while being towed the glider began to climb and the canopy opened. The pilot released the glider from the tow airplane, and he reached up and closed the canopy. He recalled that he decreased the glider's airspeed, and he made a 180° right turn to final. On final, the glider was high, and he deployed the airbrakes, but the canopy opened again. The pilot closed the canopy and held it shut with his left hand, while trying to control the glider with his right hand, but the glider's altitude decreased "very quickly." The glider's wingtip struck a shipping container that was just short of the runway. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, while being towed, the glider began to climb, and the canopy opened. The pilot released the glider from the tow airplane, and he reached up and closed the canopy. He decreased the glider's airspeed and made a 180° right turn to final. On final, the glider was high, and he deployed the airbrakes, but the canopy opened again. The pilot closed the canopy and held it shut with his left hand while trying to control the glider with his right hand, but the altitude decreased "very quickly." The glider's wingtip struck a shipping container just short of the runway. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Attain/maintain not possible - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Attain/maintain not possible - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA469.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.