# Accident 19971012031229A: Scwzer SGS233A, Ionia, MI, October 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 1997, 14:12 local time
- Place: Ionia, MI
- Airport: Ionia County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.9802° N, 85.0508° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9802&lon=-85.0508&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5762S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5762S-2013-02-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (registry code 8051606, https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER SGS233A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 201 total, 56 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA013) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971012031229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASH LANDED SHORT RUNWAY. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER DEVELOPED AN 'UNUSUAL' SINK RATE WHILE ON DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 18.  HE ELECTED NOT TO FLY A BASE LEG, BUT INSTEAD HE TURNED DIRECTLY TOWARD THE RUNWAY.  HE REPORTED THE SINK RATE INCREASED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH.  THE GLIDER CONTACTED TREES AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 1,000 FEET PRIOR TO THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.                                                                     (-23) THE AIRCRAFT (GLIDER) RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHEN THE GLIDERS LEFT WING IMPACTED A TREE WHILE LANDING APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY OF INTENDED LANDING.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE SINK AND WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA013), Oct 12, 1997: Schweizer FGS-233 (N5762S), Ionia, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot misjudged the landing approach which resulted in his failure to attain a proper touchdown point. A factor was the trees.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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