# NTSB LAX04CA310: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N2873H, Maricopa, AZ, September 2, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2004, 14:22 local (21:22 UTC)
- Place: Maricopa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.085277, -112.161109
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0853&lon=-112.1611&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60090
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA310
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60090/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA310

## Probable cause

the pilot's encounter with a dust devil during landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command
  - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind (cause)
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The glider landed hard on touchdown.  The student pilot encountered what witnesses described as a "really large" dust devil during the landing flare.  Thereafter, the glider's nose pitched downward, and the glider impacted the ground hard.  The student's traffic pattern approach to runway 24C had been normal.  The prevailing wind was from 240 degrees, between 5 and 10 knots.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2004, at 1422 mountain standard time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N2873H, encountered a dust devil during the landing flare at the Estrella Sailport, about 6 miles west of Maricopa, Arizona.  The glider touched down hard on the runway and was substantially damaged.  The student pilot was seriously injured during the solo instructional flight.  The glider's owner, Arizona Soaring, Inc., Maricopa, operated the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight originated from the sailport at 1409.

The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his student had flown a normal traffic pattern to the runway.  When the student was on short final approach to runway 24C, the CFI observed a "really large" dust devil in the area.  The CFI stated that he believes the glider encountered the adverse weather.  Thereafter, the glider nosed down and impacted the runway hard.  Minutes prior to the mishap, the local wind speed was from 240 degrees, between 5 and 10 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2873H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2873H-2007-05-23), registration cancelled 2007-05-23, S/N 543, built 1979 (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: 543
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Arizona Soaring, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: E68, Maricopa, AZ
- Destination: E68, Maricopa, AZ
- Airport: E68, Estrella Sailport, runway 24C

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 21; injuries: serious; student; flight hours: 23 total, 6 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 102 °F

## 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 20040902022529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040902022529A), Sep 2, 2004: Scwzer SGS233A, Maricopa, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Student was on 9th solo flight with no previous difficulties or incidents according to her instructor. Supervising instructor witnessing the landing…

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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