N33964

Substantial
None

Schweizer SGS-2-33AS/N: 367

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, September 25, 2005
NTSB Number
IAD05CA148
Location
Windsor, VA
Event ID
20060925X01386
Coordinates
36.860279, -76.692497
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The solo student pilot's loss of control during landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N33964
Make
SCHWEIZER
Serial Number
367
Year Built
1974
Model / ICAO
SGS-2-33A

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
TIDEWATER SOARING SOCIETY
Address
14212 IRON MINE SPRING RD
Status
Deregistered
City
WINDSOR
State / Zip Code
VA 23487-6258
Country
United States

Analysis

The student pilot of a Schweizer SGS 2-33A glider was on her first solo flight. The pilot released the glider from the tow plane about 3000 feet mean sea level, and upon returning to the gliderport, descended below traffic pattern altitude because she "misread her altimeter." According to witnesses, the glider appeared "very low" on the base leg. The pilot overflew the runway approach path, turned "too sharply" to align with the runway centerline, and "[the glider] fell out of the sky." The glider overflew the runway and struck a hangar wall, a tent support post, and came to rest on top of two ground support vehicles. The pilot reported that there were no deficiencies with the performance and handling of the glider.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD05CA148