# NTSB LAX87LA035: Schweizer SGS2-33A, N7558, Sun City, AZ, November 9, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 9, 1986, 14:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place: Sun City, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.810913, -113.179298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8109&lon=-113.1793&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25468/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA035

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE ON A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FIND SUFFICIENT LIFT & DECIDED TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. DUE TO HIS LOW ALTITUDE, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO FLY A NORMAL PATTERN ENTRY. A DOWNWIND LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED; HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE RUNWAY, OTHER AIRCRAFT WERE DEPARTING. THE PILOT PARALLELED THE RUNWAY STILL ANTICIPATING A NORMAL LANDING. WHILE TURNING TOWARD THE RUNWAY, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED AN ADDITIONAL LOSS OF ALTITUDE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO ANOTHER LANDING SPOT, BUT THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING TIP COLLIDED WITH A SAGUARO CACTUS ABOUT 250 TO 300 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD 1053 HRS OF FLIGHT TIME IN SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT, BUT ONLY 11.9 HRS IN GLIDERS. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, HE HELD ONLY A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7558](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7558), registered now, S/N 188, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS2-33A
- 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: 188
- Airframe hours: 1476
- Engines: unknown UNK unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Michael W. Mullane
- Registered owner: Baboquavani Soaring School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 1986, 52 hours before
- Departed: SUN CITY, AZ
- Airport: Pleasant Valley, runway 23, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; student; seat: front; flight hours: 1,065 total, 11 in this make and model, 845 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DVT, 11 nm away

## 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 19861109058879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861109058879A), Nov 9, 1986: Scwzer SGS233A, Sun City, AZ, Substantial damage. Wingtip struck an arm of a saguaro cactus during landing approach. Student encountered a loss of lift in pattern.

## Other investigations on N7558 (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 LAX84LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA037), Oct 23, 1983: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N7558), New River, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX74FUJ70](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74FUJ70), Jun 17, 1974: Schweizer SGS233 (N7558), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage

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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