# NTSB LAX94LA124: Schweizer 2-33-A, N3622Z, Dillingham, HI, February 13, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1994, 15:45 local (Feb 13, 1994, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Dillingham, HI
- Coordinates: 21.289146, -157.689666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.2891&lon=-157.6897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28665/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA124

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while maneuvering in the traffic pattern and his inadvertent entry into a stall/mush condition.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

GROUND WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT A LOWER THAN NORMAL ALTITUDE AND APPEARED TO BE SLOW. THE GLIDER FLEW A NORMAL LENGTH DOWNWIND LEG AND, WHILE TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL, STALLED AND DRAGGED ONE WING TIP ON THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN CARTWHEELED INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE GLIDER THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN, ROLLED TO THE LEFT, AND IMPACTED ON THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On February 12, 1994, at 1545 Hawaii standard time, a Schweizer 2-33-A glider, N3622Z, drug a wing tip turning base to final and cartwheeled into the ground at the Dillingham airport, Oahu, Hawaii.  The glider was owned and operated by Soar Hawaii, Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii, and was rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation.  The glider incurred substantial damage.  Neither the certificated commercial pilot nor his one passenger were injured.  The flight originated from the Dillingham airport on the day of the accident about 1515 hours.

Ground witnesses to the accident reported that the glider entered the traffic pattern at a lower than normal altitude and appeared to be slow.  The glider flew a normal length downwind leg and, while turning from base to final, stalled and drug one wing tip on the ground.  The glider then cartwheeled into the ground.

The pilot reported in his written statement that he encountered strong turbulence and downdrafts while on final approach.  The glider then pitched nose down, rolled to the left, and impacted on the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3622Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3622Z), registered now, S/N 575 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 2-33-A
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33a) (registry code 8051606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 575
- Airframe hours: 6166
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Soar Hawaii, Ltd.
- Registered owner: Soar Hawaii, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1993, 97 hours before
- Airport: HDH, Dillingham Airfield

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; military, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,187 total, 20 in this make and model, 157 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19940212002049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940212002049A), Feb 12, 1994: Scwzer SGS233A, Mokuleia, HI, Substantial damage. Low and slow base to final. Stalled dragged wing on ground. Cartwheeled.

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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