Scheibe SF-28A accident near Canandaigua, New York, August 17, 2006
On August 17, 2006 at about 3:38 pm local time, a Scheibe SF-28A, registered N14KG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Canandaigua, New York (Canandaigua Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The private pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and impact with trees. Factors were the FAA inspector's delayed remedial action, and his lack of experience in the make and model motorglider.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2006 · about 3:38 pm local time
- Place
- Canandaigua, New York · Canandaigua Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Scheibe SF-28A
- Registration
- N14KG · registry record · serial 5767
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was conducting a reexamination flight of a private pilot, who was involved in a prior landing accident with his motorglider. The FAA inspector reported that he had a couple of hours of motorglider experience, no experience in the accident motorglider make and model, no logbook endorsement for a motorglider, and no experience conducting a practical test or reexamination flight in a motorglider. During the reexamination flight, the FAA inspector initiated an unplanned simulated engine failure during takeoff, about 400 feet agl. The private pilot flew the L/D max speed as he initiated a 30-degree right bank for a 180-degree turn back to the opposite runway. The FAA inspector advised the private pilot to increase the bank to 45-degrees to reach the runway. The private pilot increased the bank, but held a nose-high attitude, and the airspeed began to decrease. The FAA inspector instructed corrective action and repeatedly advised that he was taking control of the motorglider. The private pilot did increase the engine power; however, he froze on the controls, and the motorglider stalled and impacted trees. According to a certified flight instructor (CFI) in motorgliders, the simulated engine failure and turn back to the opposite runway can be completed at 200 feet agl, but the nose must be lowered, as the turn is initiated. During the day prior to the accident, the private pilot successfully performed the maneuver with another CFI at 300 feet agl, and 30 degrees of bank.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,537 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,375 as pilot in command; 640 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,894 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2006; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,345 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Limbach SL 1700 EA 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D38 Canandaigua NY at 3:35 pm
- Destination: D38
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from D38
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 NYC06FA205.