Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 accident near Chouteau, Oklahoma, June 8, 2024
On June 8, 2024 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1963 Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15 (glider), registered N8667R, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing near Chouteau, Oklahoma (Mid-America Industrial Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider while landing. Contributing to the accident was the unclear communications between the student pilot and instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2024 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chouteau, Oklahoma · Mid-America Industrial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-23H-15, built 1963 · all SGS 1-23H-15s on the register
- Registration
- N8667R · registry record · serial 63
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student glider pilot reported that while conducting an approach to runway 18, he noted that another glider was staged on the runway. The student made a radio call advising that he would land on the grass between taxiway A3 and A4. The instructor on the ground radioed to the student pilot to “land short”. The student pilot stated that he interpreted the instruction to land short of his intended landing point between taxiways A2 and A3 and initiated a forward slip. The instructor radioed to clarify that he meant to land short on the runway behind the other glider. The student pilot attempted to extend his glide to make his first intended landing point between taxiways A3 and A4. He stated that he did not think he could make the A3 and A4 taxiways and extended his dive brake and spoilers to land between A2 and A3. The student pilot reported that about that time a wind gust stopped and the glider lost airspeed and developed a significant sink rate. The glider landed hard which resulted in serious injury to the student pilot and minor damage to the glider. The towplane pilot located on the runway at the taxiway A3 intersection reported that he saw the glider lose its forward motion and drop in a flat attitude to the ground. Based on the pilot and witness statement it is likely that the glider stalled while landing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of lift during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Accuracy of communication › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Accuracy of communication › Instructor/check pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,463 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: H71 Chouteau OK at 4:10 pm
- Destination: H71 Chouteau OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,001 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KGCM, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGCM 081635Z AUTO 20013G19KT 10SM CLR 31/27 A2980 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA219.