Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Waynesville, Ohio, July 10, 2022

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot, who held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, was transitioning to flying gliders and had about 27 hours of glider flying experience at the time of the accident. On the afternoon of the accident flight he had completed two instructional flights before being signed off for his first solo flight. After departing on the solo flight, the pilot released the glider from the tow airplane at the planned altitude of 2,000 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot knew he was about 2 miles from the departure airport, but he was having difficulty locating the turf runway due to the glare of the setting sun. After descending to about 1,100 ft agl, and still not being able to locate the runway, he selected a corn field for an off-airport landing. The glider’s fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged during the subsequent landing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider 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.

Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

INVESTIGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS A. ACCIDENT Location: Waynesville, OH Date: 7/10/2022 Aircraft: Schweizer SGS-2-33A Registration: N3616Q NTSB IIC: Peter Wentz PhotographsInvestigative Photographs – N3616Q Photograph 2 – Accident airplane, right front view. Photograph 3 – Accident airplane, cockpit view.Investigative Photographs – N3616Q Photograph 4 – Accident airplane, right wing tip damage. Photograph 5 – Accident airplane, fuselage damage.

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.