# NTSB ERA21LA248: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N33929, Nellysford, VA, June 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 13, 2021, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Nellysford, VA · Soaring Club Airport - Coordinates: 37.879582, -78.893634 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8796&lon=-78.8936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 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): 103251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103251/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103251 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA248 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glide path to the runway. ## 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 · Student/instructed 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: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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) ## Analysis During an instructional flight in a glider, the student was high on the final approach, deployed the spoilers and entered a forward slip. The flight instructor stated that shortly after, the student “suddenly and unexpectedly” pulled back on the control stick while the rudder and ailerons were cross controlled. The flight instructor immediately took control, pushed the control stick forward and closed the spoilers; however, insufficient altitude remained for a full recovery, which resulted in a hard landing and serious injuries to the instructor. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33929](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N33929), registered now, S/N 411, built 1975 (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: 411 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 1516.6 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Shenandoah Valley Soaring Inc - Registered owner: Shenandoah Valley Soaring Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Other - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: VG22, Rockfish, runway 24, 1,700 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: serious; sport pilot, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 428 total, 91 in this make and model, 362 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: SHD, 23 nm away - METAR: KSHD 131835Z AUTO 13003KT 10SM SCT034 BKN075 BKN085 29/20 A2993 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NE T02870200 ## 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 20210613007459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210613007459A), Jun 13, 2021: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Nellysford, VA, No damage. During flight instruction student pilot faired high. CFI did not correct and aircraft landed hard causing injury to CFI. ## Other investigations on N33929 (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 NYC93LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA084), Apr 17, 1993: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N33929), Buchanan, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, INADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND AND PROXIMITY OF OBSTRUCTIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103251. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12407874&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 462 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12408774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.