Schweizer 2-33A C-FYLP
18 August 2003
Mountainview, ON
The accident occurred during a routine mission at the Air Cadet Central Region Gliding School (CRGS). The launch, area work, and circuit re-join for Runway 34 were all normal. While on downwind, the solo student temporarily encountered significant sink and, because she was low, angled in towards the airfield. After an early turn to base, the student realized that she was still low and once again in sink; however, this time she continued on a normal base pattern without angling in or closing the spoilers. The student turned onto final low while still in sink. In an attempt to stretch the glide and make the landing area, the student eased back on the control stick and did not notice the resultant decreasing airspeed and the approach of the ensuing aerodynamic stall. From a slightly nose-high attitude and in a stalled condition, witnesses observed the glider to drop from a height of 10'-15' and land firmly on a large rock. The aircraft suffered "C" category damage; the pilot was un-injured.
The student had never flown from Runway 34; the three previous flights, flown from Runway 06, resulted in low final approaches. Due to an unfamiliar site picture in the circuit to Runway 34 and the existing conditions, the demands upon the student's attention were very high, such that her task management likely became saturated in the latter stages of the flight.
The student correctly dealt with the sink encountered on downwind by angling in towards the field, turning early onto base leg, increasing airspeed to exit the area of sink, and keeping the spoilers closed; however, she failed to employ these techniques after once again encountering sink on base. Had the student done so, she would have exited the area of sink sooner, positioned herself closer to the airfield, slowed the rate of descent, increased the glide distance, not been required to attempt stretching the glide, and therefore likely have reached the designated landing area.
Finally, during the student's circuit, the monitoring instructor noted that the glider was lower than normal; however, the instructor felt that the student was not low enough to warrant providing verbal assistance via the on-site VHF radio. Had he done so, perhaps this outcome would have been different.
As a result of this accident, CRGS staff received training on the requirements for in-flight student monitoring. It was also recommended that radio availability and its usage by monitoring instructors should be mandated in the 242 ACGP Manual.
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