Schweizer S6S 2-33 accident near Mercer, Pennsylvania, June 15, 2008
On June 15, 2008 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Schweizer S6S 2-33 (glider), registered N5714S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mercer, Pennsylvania (Grove City Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The private pilot's improper aircraft handling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mercer, Pennsylvania · Grove City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer S6S 2-33
- Registration
- N5714S · no longer on the register · serial 60
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the instructional flight in the glider, a normal traffic pattern and normal approach were performed to runway 28. About 20 feet above the runway, the certified flight instructor instructed the private pilot to reduce the spoilers slightly and pull back on the stick. The private pilot then increased the spoiler application and moved the control stick forward. The glider immediately hit the runway in a nose-low attitude, bounced once, and slid to a stop down a slope next to the runway. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported with the glider.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 18,000 as pilot in command; 4,525 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,425 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 29D Mercer PA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 29D Mercer PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; a few clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from UCP, 13 miles away
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.