Student Pilot’s Failure To Maintain Airspeed And Altitude Resulting In A Collision With The Ground During The Base To Final Turn

Location: Monee, Illinois Accident Number: CEN25LA311
Date & Time: August 6, 2025, 14:57 Local Registration: N65818
Aircraft: Schweizer SGS 2-33A Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

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 couldhave been prevented by paying closer attention to the glider’s altitude and airspeed while in the traffic pattern.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The student pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and altitude resulting in a collision with the ground during the base to final turn.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov