Vickers-Slingsby T65A accident near Butler, Georgia, July 16, 2022
On July 16, 2022 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Vickers-Slingsby T65A (glider), registered N157HH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Butler, Georgia (Butler Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s retraction the landing gear just prior to touchdown on the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2022 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Butler, Georgia · Butler Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vickers-Slingsby T65A
- Registration
- N157HH · no longer on the register · serial 1894
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Just before touching down to land, the pilot could not remember if he extended the landing gear. He said he then grabbed the gear handle (which was in the down position) and retracted the gear. The glider landed gear up and bounced, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and tail section.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,171 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,066 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 986.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 775 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: None (none); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from K6A1
Weather report (METAR): METAR K6A1 161755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 31/20 A3011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 24, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.