# NTSB OAK73DVA43: Schweizer 2-33, N5733S, Piedra, CA, March 24, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 24, 1973
- Place: Piedra, CA · PIEDRA, CA
- Location: 36.8102° N, 119.3821° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Piedra, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8102&lon=-119.3821&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163263
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73DVA43
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVA43

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0508  73/3/24    PIEDRA,CALIF        SCHWEIZER 2-33      CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 48,
        TIME - 1240                    N5733S              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  213 TOTAL HOURS, 13 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WONDER VALLEY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PIEDRA,CALIF                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - OPERATED CARELESSLY
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT DID NOT FOLLOW ACCEPTABLE PROCEDURE FOR MOUNTAIN RIDGE FLYING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5733S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5733S-1981-12-24), registration cancelled 1981-12-24, S/N 78 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 2-33
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33) (registry code 8051604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Wonder Valley

## 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 19730324005409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730324005409A), Mar 24, 1973: Scwzer SGS233, Piedra, CA, Substantial damage. Plt did not follow acceptable procedure for mountain ridge flying.

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.