# Accident 20120128000729A: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, January 28, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 28, 2012, 10:15 local time
- Airport: Pleasant Valley
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7928° N, 112.2653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7928&lon=-112.2653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17873, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17873) (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: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 11,658 total, 151 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120128000729A

## Narrative

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

PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, REPORTED THAT HE TOOK A PASSENGER FOR A GLIDER RIDE.  HE SAID THE NORMAL ALTITUDE THEY RELEASE FROM THE TOW PLANE IS AT 4000'ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.  THE GROUND ALTITUDE AT THE PLEASANT VALLEY AIRPORT IS APPROXIMATELY 1600'.  HE SAID MANY TIMES HE WOULD SET THE ALTIMETER TO 0' BEFORE TAKE-OFF AND RELEASE WHEN THE ALTIMETER READ 4000'.  ON THIS FLIGHT HE RELEASED WHEN THE ALTIMETER READ 4000', BUT BEFORE TAKE-OFF THE ALTIMETER WAS SET TO THE FIELD BAROMETRIC PRESSURE INSTEAD OF 0'.  THIS MEANS WHEN THE ALTIMETER REACHED 4000' THAT THE GLIDER WAS AT ONLY 2400' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.  HE STATED THAT HIS MIND WAS TELLING HIM HE WAS AT 4000', BUT HIS EYES WERE TELLING HIM HE WAS LOWER.  THERE WERE ALSO STRONG WINDS FROM THE NORTHEAST AT THE TIME AND, AS A RESULT, HE MISJUDGED THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 5.  WHEN HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY, HE BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN TOWARD A DOWNWIND DIRECTION TO FIND A SPOT TO LAND.  THIS RESULTED IN A FASTER THAN NORMAL LOSS OF ALTITUDE.  ACCORDING TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, THE GLIDER DROPPED RAPIDLY FROM ABOUT 10'.  THE GLIDER HIT THE GROUND HARD IN A SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION THEN SPUN AROUND.  THE GLIDER CAME TO REST POINTING NORTH APPROXIMATELY 150' FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF GROUND CONTACT.^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RECEIVED BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED FOR MEDICAL CARE.  HIS INJURIES ARE CONSIDERED MINOR.  HIS PASSENGER WAS NOT BADLY HURT AND REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT.  THE GLIDER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND LEFT WING.  THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO BOTH WING TIPS, TAIL WHEEL, BOTH AILERONS, ELEVATOR, WIND SCREEN, AND NOSE SECTION.  CONTROL SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED, BUT THE AILERON PUSH-PULL TUBE IN THE LEFT WING WAS BINDING.  THIS WAS DUE TO THE DAMAGED WING CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE TUBE.THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS DUE TO PILOT ERROR.

## 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 WPR12CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA084), Jan 28, 2012: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N17873), Peoria, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider pilot released from the tow airplane at a lower altitude than the planned altitude, which resulted in an off-airport landing.

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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