# NTSB ERA22LA370: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N2055T, Shirley, NY, August 4, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 4, 2022, 15:57 local (19:57 UTC)
- Place: Shirley, NY
- Coordinates: 40.821954, -72.866907
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8220&lon=-72.8669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- 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): 105728
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA370
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105728/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105728
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA370

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to ensure clearance from an electrical junction box during takeoff, which resulted in a collision.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of the glider reported that the takeoff for the instruction flight was along a grass area adjacent to a paved runway. The takeoff began with the right wing down to practice a standard unassisted takeoff. As the takeoff roll began, the right wing rose, and the glider entered ground effect. Several seconds later, the flight instructor heard a “boom” as the glider bounced up. He then released the tow rope and landed straight down the grass runway uneventfully. The flight instructor exited the glider and noted damage to the right wing as a result of a collision with an electrical junction box for the runway’s precision approach path indicator. He added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider. Postaccident examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed substantial damage to the glider’s right aileron.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2055T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2055T), registered now, S/N 495, built 1977 (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: 495
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 3163.4
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Long Island Soaring Association Inc
- Registered owner: Long Island Soaring Association Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2021
- Departed: HWV, Shirley, NY
- Airport: HWV, Brookhaven, runway 15, 4,222 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, commercial; last flight review December 12, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 209 total, 177 in this make and model, 153 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 1994; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 329 total, 3 in this make and model, 231 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KHWV
- METAR: KHWV 041956Z AUTO 17011KT 10SM CLR 31/20 A3004

## 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 20220804014069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220804014069A), Aug 4, 2022: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Brookhaven, NY, Minor damage. During glider take off roll the glider veried right and hit a PAPI electrical junction box outboard right leading edge wing. Pilot pulled tow relase and landed…

## Other investigations on N2055T (2)

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 NYC01LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA020), Oct 21, 2000: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N2055T), Shirley, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight decision to abort the glide toward the airport. A factor was the pilot's failure to comply with the published best glide speed.
- [NTSB NYC90LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA082), Mar 25, 1990: Schweizer S2-33A (N2055T), Brookhaven, NY, minor damage. Probable cause: CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS A HARD LANDING AFTER THE PILOT STALLED THE GLIDER WHILE TURNING ONTO FINAL APPROACH.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105728. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14339567&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather report (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14340378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 267 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14339477&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.

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