Schweizer SGS233 accident near Springfield, Vermont, May 20, 2017
On May 20, 2017 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1971 Schweizer SGS233 (glider), registered N1242S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Springfield, Vermont (Hartness State (Springfield)). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the glider landing short of the runway in trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2017 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Vermont · Hartness State (Springfield) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS233 A, built 1971
- Registration
- N1242S · registry record · serial 224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, during the turn to final approach, the glider appeared to be above glidepath, so the student pilot used dive brakes to descend. He added that, once the glider returned to a normal glidepath, the student retracted the dive brakes, but the glider continued in a "higher than normal" descent rate. The flight instructor took control of the glider and landed short of the intended runway in trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit a written statement after multiple requests.
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
- Altitude deviation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 22,500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 10,500 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 2, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,557 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: VSF Springfield VT at 6:45 pm
- Destination: VSF Springfield VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,501 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KVSF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.