# Accident 20240312003019A: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Falcon, CO, March 12, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 12, 2024, 09:15 local time
- Place: Falcon, CO
- Airport: Meadow Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9428° N, 104.5699° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9428&lon=-104.5699&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2905H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2905H) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,269 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240312003019A

## Narrative

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

•	SECOND SMALLER WINDSOCK ON THE AIRFIELD SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GLIDER OPERATIONS WAS SHOWING A 90° CROSSWIND OF 7-8 KNOTS

•	TOW CABLE FOR VEHICLE LAUNCH OPERATIONS IS HOOKED TO CENTER OF PLANE NEAR CENTER OF GRAVITY TO ALLOW PLANE TO PITCH UP AND GAIN VELOCITY CLIMBING AGAINST THE TENSION OF THE ROPE

•	WIND WAS PUSHING PLANE OFF COURSE DURING TAKEOFF, PILOT COMPENSATED

•	ONCE AIRBORNE A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING AND PILOT COULD NOT COUNTER USING FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS

•	PILOT DID NOT WANT TO DISCONNECT RIGHT AWAY CONCERNED THAT LOSS OF FORWARD VELOCITY FROM TOW VEHICLE WOULD RESULT IN A STALL

•	WHEN THE GLIDER BEGAN BANKING TO THE LEFT CAUSING IT TO SIDE-LOAD THE TOW ROPE AUTOMATICALLY RELEASED AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO

SUMMARY:

LEFT WING HIT THE GROUND, THEN THE NOSE HIT AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE LANDING GEAR. PLANE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED BUT NEITHER OCCUPANT WAS INJURED

## 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 CEN24LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA133), Mar 12, 2024: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N2905H), Falcon, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control during takeoff which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and an impact with terrain.

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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