# NTSB LAX99LA232: Schweizer SGS-2-33A, N17902, Wailua, HI, June 28, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 1999, 15:00 local (Jun 28, 1999, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Wailua, HI - Coordinates: 21.569013, -158.120254 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5690&lon=-158.1203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46641/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA232 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the existing gusty wind conditions and his improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated the winds were blustery at 15 to 20 knots. He turned to final approach at 350 feet with full spoilers. At 200 feet he reduced spoilers to 25 percent. He was maintaining 75 to 80 miles per hour (mph) and increased spoilers to 50 percent at 100 feet. He stated he experienced a sudden loss of velocity at 25 feet, followed by a nose down attitude. After the glider contacted the runway, the nose went up and the glider became airborne again. The pilot applied full spoilers with a forward slide in an attempt to flare. The nose touched down followed immediately by the tail contacting the ground. The glider became airborne, then touched down and stopped within 15 to 20 feet. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 1999, about 1500 hours Hawaiian standard time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A glider, N17902, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Dillingham Field in Wailua, Hawaii. The glider was being operated by Honolulu Soaring Club under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight. The student pilot, who suffered minor injuries, departed Dillingham about 1415 on a local unsupervised solo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated the winds were blustery at 15 to 20 knots. He turned to final approach for runway 8 at 350 feet with full spoilers. At 200 feet he reduced spoilers to 25 percent. He was maintaining 75 to 80 miles per hour and increased spoilers to 50 percent at 100 feet. He stated he experienced a sudden loss of velocity at 25 feet, followed by a nose down attitude. After the glider contacted the runway, the nose went up and the glider became airborne. The pilot applied full spoilers with a forward slide in an attempt to flare. The nose touched down followed immediately by the tail contacting the ground. The glider became airborne again, then touched down and stopped within 15 to 20 feet. The landing gear mounting frame was crushed and a tube fractured in the fuselage frame. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17902](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17902), registered now, S/N 292, built 1973 (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: 292 - Airframe hours: 8565 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Honolulu Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 1999, 33 hours before - Departed: HDH - Airport: HDH, Dillingham, runway 8, 9,007 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; student; seat: front; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HNL, 21 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 19990627007829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990627007829A), Jun 27, 1999: Scwzer SGS233A, Mokuleia, HI, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot stated the winds were blustery at 15 to 20 knots. He turned to final approach at 350 feet with full spoilers. At 200 feet he reduced spoilers to… 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.