# Accident 20010408006019A: Scwzer SGS233A, Peoria, AZ, April 8, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 8, 2001, 12:35 local time - Place: Peoria, AZ - Airport: Pleasant Valley Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.6492° N, 112.2408° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6492&lon=-112.2408&mi=10 - Aircraft: N7778S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7778S-2002-02-08) (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 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,832 total, 535 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA142) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010408006019A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) DURING TAKEOFF FOR A GLIDER RIDE AT TURF SOARING COMMERCIAL RATED GLIDER PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A LARGE THERMAL PASSING THE RUNWAY JUST AS THE GLIDER LIFTING OFF. THE GLIDER WAS LIFTED APPROX. 50 FEET IN THE AIR AND LANDING HARD ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE A/C WAS DESTROYED AND THE PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHEN HER SHINS STRUCK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE GLIDER RELEASED FROM THE TOW AS SOON AS THE PILOT WAS THAT HE WAS OUT OF POSITON. THIS PREVENTED THE TOWPLANE FROM BEING INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. (.19)ON APRIL 8, 2001, AT 1235 MST, A SCHWEITZER 2-33A, N7778S, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT PLEASANT VALLEY AIRPORT, PEORIA, AZ. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE BUSINESS FLIGHT WHICH WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIMEOF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO ALONG WITH HIS ONE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL RESULTING IN THE LEFT WING STRIKING THE GROUND. THE GLIDER CAME TO REST NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. (.4) ON APRIL 8, 2001, AT 1235 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A SCHWEIZER 2-33A, N7778S, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT PLEASANT VALLEY AIRPORT, PEORIA, ARIZONA. BOBOQUIVARI SOARING SCHOOL, D.B.A. TURF SOARING SCHOOL, WAS OPERATING THE GLIDER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AS A GLIDER RIDE FOR A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE GLIDER WAS DEPARTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL, CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO STRIKE THE GROUND. IT THEN LIFTED THE GLIDER 50 FEET INTO THE AIR. THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOW LINE AND THE GLIDER STARTED A SLOW DESCENDING TURN TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND, CRACKING THE FUSELAGE. THE GLIDER CAME TO REST NEXT TO 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 LAX01LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA142), Apr 8, 2001: Schweizer 2-33A (N7778S), Peoria, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider's encounter with a dust devil during takeoff that resulted in a loss of control. ## Other reports on N7778S (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19740427013489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740427013489A), Apr 27, 1974: Scwzer SGS233A (N7778S), Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. Sngle wheel gr. No UNICOM at Turf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.