# NTSB ERA22LA196: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N7784S, Zebulon, NC, April 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 16, 2022, 15:34 local (19:34 UTC)
- Place: Zebulon, NC
- Coordinates: 35.930731, -78.244951 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9307&lon=-78.2450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- 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): 104973
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104973/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104973
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA196

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control with a quartering tailwind.

## 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 · Instructor/check 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: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing a tow rope failure and were landing the glider with a light, quartering tailwind. On final approach the glider drifted right of the runway centerline and just before touchdown, the right wing struck a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and canopy. The flight instructor reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7784S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7784S), registered now, S/N 154, 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: 154
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 4091.2
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: North Carolina Soaring Association
- Registered owner: North Carolina Soaring Association
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 7NC5, Crooked Creek Airfield, runway 22, 2,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,496 total, 31 in this make and model, 2,426 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 15; injuries: minor; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: LHZ, 7 nm away
- METAR: KLHZ 161935Z AUTO 21010KT 10SM SCT040 SCT049 SCT055 22/13 A2999 RMK AO2

## 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 20220416005522A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220416005522A), Apr 16, 2022: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Zebulon, NC, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 31, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104973. 7.0 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=13844107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13835549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13835212&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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