# NTSB LAX97LA024: Schweizer 2-33-A, N65844, Los Alamitos, CA, October 20, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 20, 1996, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Los Alamitos, CA
- Coordinates: 33.790527, -118.06015 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7905&lon=-118.0601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29670
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29670/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA024

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to properly handle the glider, and the instructor pilot's inadequate supervision.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - aircraft handling - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During the final approach, the student pilot was having difficulty controlling the glider and was not aligned with the runway.  The glider got low and slow before the instructor pilot took over the controls.  The pilot landed short of the runway and the aircraft collided with an object protruding from the ground that damaged the spar.

## Factual narrative

On October 20, 1996, at 1320 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer 2-33-A glider, N65844, collided with the terrain short of dirt runway 22R at the Armed Forces Reserve Center located in Los Alamitos, California.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the certified instructor pilot and his dual student were not injured.  The flight departed at 1300 for a local instructional flight.  Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time with the winds reported from 220 degrees at 13 knots.

According to the pilot, the student let the glider get out of position during the final approach for landing.  The student was having a hard time coordinating the controls and the aircraft became low and slow.  The instructor took over and landed the glider in a field short of the runway.  The left wing collided with a pipe protruding from the ground and bent the spar.  The instructor stated there were no mechanical problems with the glider prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65844](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65844-2013-10-24), registration cancelled 2013-10-24, S/N 335, built 1974 (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)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: SLI
- Airport: SLI, Los Alamitos Reserve Cent, runway 22R, 1,300 × 100 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 411 total, 180 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19961020041649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961020041649A), Oct 20, 1996: Scwzer SGS233A, Los Alamitos, CA, Substantial damage. Student became low and slow on approach. CFI took over landed off airport. Wing spar bent on pipe. No anomalies.

## Other investigations on N65844 (1)

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 LAX07CA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA172), May 22, 2007: Schweizer SGS2-33A (N65844), Los Alamitos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the towrope during the initial climb out.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.