# Accident 20040902022529A: Scwzer SGS233A, Maricopa, AZ, September 2, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2004, 14:35 local time
- Place: Maricopa, AZ
- Airport: Estrella Sailport Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.0853° N, 112.1611° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0853&lon=-112.1611&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2873H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2873H-2007-05-23) (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 certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 18 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA310) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040902022529A

## Narrative

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

(-23) STUDENT WAS ON 9TH SOLO FLIGHT WITH NO PREVIOUS DIFFICULTIES OR INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO HER INSTRUCTOR. SUPERVISING INSTRUCTOR WITNESSING THE LANDING STATED THAT THE STUDENT FLEW THROUGH A PROMINENT DUST DEVIL WHILE ON SHORT FINAL WHICH RESULTED IN HER LOSING CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPING THE GLIDER ON TOUCH DOWN. DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER CONSISTED OF A BROKEN LEFT WING JUST INBOARD OF THE AILERON AND THE TAIL CONE BENDING AT A POINT BEHIND THE WING ROOT TRAILING EDGE UNTIL IT WAS PARALLEL TO THE LEFT WING. STUDENT RECEIVED A FRACTURED ANKLE.

## 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 LAX04CA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA310), Sep 2, 2004: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N2873H), Maricopa, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's encounter with a dust devil during landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown.

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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