Schweizer SGS 2-33A N7758S

Summary

On 7 April 1995 at about 23:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A registered N7758S, operated by Turf Soaring School, was involved in an accident near Peoria, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 April 1995 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Peoria, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pleasant Valley Airport (AZ05)

Coordinates

33.6496, -112.2401

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Registration

N7758S

Category

Glider

Operator

Turf Soaring School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA164

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's misjudged evaluation of the weather, and his inadequate compensation for the gusting winds and downdrafts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY IN THE SAME MODEL OF GLIDER FROM PLEASANT VALLEY. HE SAID HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND WAS OBSERVANT OF THE LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER BEING TOWED TO 3,000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND THEREAFTER FLYING BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MINUTES, HE ENTERED THE NORMAL LANDING TRAFFIC PATTERN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING ONTO THE BASE LEG, HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE GLIDER WAS 'LOSING A GREAT DEAL OF ALTITUDE.' THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE 'IMMEDIATELY TURNED AGAIN TO ANGLE SHARPLY TOWARD THE RUNWAY, RATHER THAN FLYING SQUARE BASE AND FINAL LEGS.' WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP, AND WITH THE GLIDER DESCENDING RAPIDLY, THE PILOT MADE AN OFF-FIELD LANDING ABOUT 1/4 MILE EAST OF RUNWAY 21. THE LOCAL WIND WAS FROM 210 DEGREES, AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 16 KNOTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.