# NTSB SEA07LA250: Schweizer SGS 2-33, N5731S, Morgan, UT, August 31, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2007, 13:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Morgan, UT - Coordinates: 41.153057, -111.761665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1531&lon=-111.7617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66587/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA250 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while maneuvering on final approach to landing, which resulted in an collision with a tree. A factor was the wind gust. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis On short final the glider encountered a gust of wind, which lifted the tail and rolled the aircraft to the right. The glider's right wing subsequently impacted a tree off the right side of the runway, flipping it over before coming to rest inverted. The wind at the time of the accident was estimated to be from 240 degrees and between 10 to 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2007, approximately 1350 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33 glider, N5731S, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and subsequent impact with trees while on approach to landing at the Morgan County Airport (42U), Morgan, Utah. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the student pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed 42U about 1300. In a statement submitted to the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the flight instructor reported that on short final to Runway 21 the aircraft encountered a gust of wind, which lifted the tail and rolled the glider to the right. The flight instructor stated that by the time he was able to level the wings he was right of the runway centerline and headed toward a group of large bushes/trees, which were also off the right side of the runway. The flight instructor further stated that the airplane's right wing subsequently impacted a tree, which resulted in the airplane flipping over and coming to rest inverted; the impact force to the right wing resulted in substantial damage to the glider. The flight instructor estimated that the wind at the time of the accident was from 240 degrees and between 10 to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5731S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5731S-2009-08-27), registration cancelled 2009-08-27, S/N 74, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 2-33 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-33) (registry code 8051604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 74 - Airframe hours: 4144.1 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Jeremy Brooking - Registered owner: J Bird Enterprises LLS - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2007 - Departed: 42U, Morgan, UT - Destination: 42U, Morgan, UT - Airport: 42U, Morgan County Airport, runway 21, 3,900 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 526 total, 137 in this make and model, 458 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 3 total, 3 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 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 20070831018539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070831018539A), Aug 31, 2007: Scwzer SGS233, Morgan, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) During an instructional flight and on short final to rwy 21 the CFI states a gust of wind picked up his tail which caused the rt wing to dip and the… 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.