# Accident 20220416005522A: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Zebulon, NC, April 16, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 2022, 15:50 local time
- Place: Zebulon, NC
- Airport: Crooked Creek Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9307° N, 78.2450° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9307&lon=-78.2450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7784S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7784S) (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: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,509 total, 30 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA196) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220416005522A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 16, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1545 LCL, A GLIDER (N7784S) WAS PERFORMING A SIMULATED ROPE BREAK PROCEDURE AND COMING BACK TO THE 7NC5 AIRPORT WHEN IT STRUCK A TREE ON THE RIGHT WING AND LANDED HARD NEAR THE RUNWAY AND SLID ACROSS THE GROUND INTO A PARKED AIRCRAFT (N5074W).

N7784S AND N5074W BOTH SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE IMPACT. N7784S HAD DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT HAND WING FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE TREE AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FUSELAGE AND CANOPY FROM THE IMPACT WITH N5074W. N5074W HAD DAMAGE TO THE LEFT HAND WING, COWLING, AND PROPELLER FROM THE IMPACT WITH N7784S.

THE GLIDER WAS BEING PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OCCUPIED THE REAR SEAT IN THE GLIDER AND HIS STUDENT WAS UP FRONT. THE STUDENT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT UNASSISTED AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES INCLUDING SOME CUTS AND BRUISES. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE GLIDER AS THE PROPELLER OF N5074W WAS BLOCKING HIS EXIT. HE SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES TO HIS BACK WITH SOME FRACTURED BONES, CUTS, AND BRUISES.

THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) WITH WINDS THAT WERE PICKING UP IN SPEED AND CHANGING DIRECTIONS. THE INSTRUCTOR, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, STATED THAT THE WINDS HAD BEEN COMING FROM THE SOUTH BUT HAD SHIFTED TO BE MORE FROM THE WEST AT THE TIME OF THE ROPE BREAK SIMULATION. HE STATED THAT HE TURNED TOWARD WHERE HE BELIEVED THE WIND WAS FROM AND MADE HIS CIRCLE FOR THE RUNWAY. HE HADN'T REALIZED AT THE TIME THAT THE WIND HAD SHIFTED DURING THEIR LAST TAKEOFF AND THAT BECAUSE OF THAT SHIFT, HE WAS BLOWN A LITTLE FURTHER FROM THE RUNWAY THAN HE INTENDED.

THE TOW PLANE PILOT ALSO STATED THE CHANGING WIND CONDITIONS AND THAT THEY HAD CANCELLED TWO NEW STUDENTS BUT FELT THAT THE FLIGHT WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STUDENT WAS OK BECAUSE HE WAS MORE EXPERIENCED AND GETTING READY FOR SOLO.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N5074W, Piper PA-28-160: no report for this aircraft; [N5074W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5074W) is registered now

## 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 ERA22LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA196), Apr 16, 2022: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N7784S), Zebulon, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control with a quartering tailwind.

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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