# NTSB SEA94LA078: Schweizer 2-33A, N5790S, Heber City, UT, March 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 8, 1994, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.43003, -111.190391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4300&lon=-111.1904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA078 ## Probable cause THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S DELAYED/INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND UNFAVORABLE/VARIABLE, GUSTY WINDS DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE BEING TOWED DURING A TAKEOFF ROLL, THE DUAL GLIDER STUDENT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. HIS REMEDIAL ACTIONS WERE INADEQUATE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, AND HE DID NOT INITIATE AN ABORT UNTIL AFTER THE GLIDER STRUCK A TAXIWAY MARKER. ## Factual narrative On March 8, 1994, approximately 1500 mountain standard time (MST), a Schweizer 2-33A glider, N5790S, collided with taxiway markers during the takeoff roll at Heber Valley Airport, Heber City, Utah. The certified flight instructor and his dual student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The dual student, who was attempting a takeoff for a local instructional flight, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was making the takeoff with the assistance of a wing-runner. After the flight controls became effective, the wing-runner let go of the wing. Soon thereafter, the glider veered left, and the left wing dipped sharply. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft, but his remedial action was not sufficient to keep the aircraft from departing the side of the runway and striking a runway marker. The instructor pilot aborted the takeoff by releasing the tow line after the impact with the marker. In an interview with investigators, the instructor pilot said that he believed a variable crosswind switched to a quartering tailwind during the takeoff roll, resulting in a loss of flight control effectiveness. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5790S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5790S), registered now, S/N 117, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 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: 117 - Airframe hours: 2291 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rowser, Leland C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 1993, 44 hours before - Airport: 36U, Heber Valley Airport, runway 21, 6,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 461 total, 95 in this make and model, 420 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19940308003969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940308003969A), Mar 8, 1994: Scwzer SGS233A, Heber, UT, Substantial damage. Student lost directional control on glider tow. Struck runway marker. CFI then released glider from tow line. ## Other investigations on N5790S (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 WPR26LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA246), Jul 5, 2026: Schweizer SGS 2-33A (N5790S), Lake Elsinore, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath, which resulted in a long landing and collision with a person on the ground. 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.