# NTSB ERA21LA244: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N7776S, Sanford, ME, June 5, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2021, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, ME
- Coordinates: 43.393806, -70.708 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3938&lon=-70.7080&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA244
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103238/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103238
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA244

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing, a gust of wind displaced the glider laterally to the left. She attempted to maneuver for a normal landing on the grass runway; however, the glider was too low to maneuver around a parked glider. She landed at an angle on the runway, and the glider ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the glider on runway 25 with wind from 260° at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7776S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7776S), registered now, S/N 146, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a) (registry code 8051606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 146
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sanford Soaring Club
- Registered owner: Sanford Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2021
- Airport: SFM, Sanford Seacoast Rgnl, runway 25, 5,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.74 inHg
- Observed at: SFM
- METAR: METAR KSFM 051956Z AUTO 26012G17KT 10SM FEW070 SCT080 OVC100 32/18 A2974 RMK AO2 SLP073 T03170178=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20210605006829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210605006829A), Jun 5, 2021: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. On 6/5/21 at about 2308 zulu time, N7776S incurred damage during a ground loop, following landing on a grass strip and Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport…

## Other investigations on N7776S (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 MKC83LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA227), Sep 29, 1983: Schweizer SGS-2-33A (N7776S), Warrensburg, MO, no damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103238. 10.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20Form%206120_print_b_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA21LA244-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818984&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01%20Photo%20Array%20-%20ERA21LA244%20-Rel.pdf

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.

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