# Accident 20030419005539A: Scwzer SGS233A, Sterling, MA, April 19, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 19, 2003, 16:30 local time
- Place: Sterling, MA
- Airport: Sterling Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4258° N, 71.7928° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4258&lon=-71.7928&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1241S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1241S-2006-08-15) (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 certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 27 total, 12 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD03LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA046) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030419005539A

## Narrative

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

(-23) STUDENT PILOT MADE RIGHT DOWNWIND TO RUNWAY 16 AT STERLING AIRPORT AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE. PILOT TURNED RIGHT BASE LEG CUTTING CORNER OF NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE STUDENT PILOT TURNED RIGHT CUTTING OFF CORNER OF NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AGAIN AT BASE TO FINAL TRYING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. AT THIS POINT THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN 180 DEGREES COMING TO A STOP IN THE TREES.

## 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 IAD03LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA046), Apr 19, 2003: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N1241S), Sterling, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's misjudgment of his traffic pattern altitudes, which resulted in a premature descent into a tree.

## Other reports on N1241S (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19730824023669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730824023669A), Aug 24, 1973: Scwzer SGS233A (N1241S), Erwinna, PA, Substantial damage. Veered into parked SGS233,N1174S,substl dmg. Plt had .3 solo in type. Second solo flt.

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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