Schweizer SGS 2-32 N9857E accident near Shirley, New York

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during final approach, which resulted in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s likely impairment due to an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine.

NTSB analysis

Immediately following an uneventful checkout flight, the glider was towed and released for the pilot's solo flight. According to the pilot's flight instructor, the solo flight appeared normal during final approach to about 250 feet above ground level, then the glider's left wing dropped, consistent with a stall, and the glider subsequently descended to the ground. The tow pilot indicated that he observed that the glider's dive brakes were half-deployed, which was "normal."

Although the pilot had a documented history of hypertension, the autopsy reported no evidence indicating that he had a heart attack during the accident flight. Toxicological testing revealed therapeutic levels of diphenhydramine, consistent with the pilot taking the medication about 2 to 3 hours before the accident. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine and could have impaired the pilot's cognitive and psychomotor performance.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13FA215 for the full record.