Schweizer SGS 2-33A N65818 accident near Monee, Illinois

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and altitude resulting in a collision with the ground during the base to final turn.

NTSB analysis

The solo student pilot reported she was on downwind to land and noted she was a bit lower than usual so she turned base early to compensate. While on the base leg her recollection of events wasn’t clear. She remembered feeling task saturated and that she may not have maintained her altitude and airspeed resulting in the glider impacting the ground during the base to final turn. The glider came to rest upright on a flat grass field and the pilot was able to egress without further incident. The fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged.

The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by paying closer attention to the glider’s altitude and airspeed while in the traffic pattern.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA311 for the full record.