NTSB investigating today’s crash of Schweizer SGS 2-32 Glider in Morrisville, VT.
Three persons died Wednesday afternoon in a Stowe Soaring glider crash on Sterling Mountain in Vermont's Green Mountains.
The glider, an aircraft without an engine that's towed aloft by an airplane, was reported missing shortly before 2 p.m. by Morrisville-Stowe State Airport personnel when it became clear it hadn't returned from its flight.
After 3 1/2 hours of searching, an aerial crew spotted the downed glider late in the afternoon about 1,000 feet below the Sterling Mountain summit, not far from the Long Trail.
Search and rescue crews made their way up the Morrisvlle side of the mountain into the densely wooded remote area.
At about 9:35 p.m., they came upon the wreckage and found all three occupants of the glider dead, Vermont State Police Lt. Shawn Loan said in a 10:30 p.m. news conference at the search's command post at the airport located just south of Morrisville.
"It was pretty rough terrain, and it took several hours to get out there," Loan said.
The identities of the three persons -- a pilot and two passengers -- were not released Wednesday night pending notification of next of kin.
Family members were present at the airport command center. They asked news reporters to leave them alone as they left following the discovery of the bodies and before the deaths were announced.
Stowe Soaring has long offered glider rides from Morrisville-Stowe State Airport. A sign standing not far from the search command center Wednesday night read "Glider Rides Today!"
What's next after glider crash
* Thursday morning, rescue crews will bring the bodies down from the remote site, which is about one mile from and 1,500 feet in elevation above the nearest trailhead, state police said.
* This effort is expected to take several hours.
* Later, the bodies will be taken to the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington, where autopsies will be performed.
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Narrative:
The aircraft impacted wooded mountainous terrain on Sterling Mountain in the Green Mountains of Vermont. The glider sustained substantial damage and the three occupants onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources:
https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/08/29/missing-glider-spotted-summit-mtn-fate-3-people-aboard-unknown/1139244002/?from=new-cookie
https://vtdigger.org/2018/08/29/glider-stowe-area-condition-3-aboard-unknown/
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http://www.stowesoaring.com
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=9916J%20
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=17970
| Date: | 29-AUG-2018 |
| Time: | -14:00 |
| Type: | Schweizer SGS 2-32 |
| Owner/operator: | Stowe Soaring |
| Registration: | |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Sterling Mountain, Green Mountains, VT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Morrisville-Stowe State (KMVL) |
| Morrisville-Stowe State (KMVL) |