# NTSB WPR22LA270: Schweizer SGS 2-33, N2482W, Livingston, MT, July 23, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 23, 2022, 10:14 local (16:14 UTC) - Place: Livingston, MT · Airport Environment - Coordinates: 45.426569, -110.65603 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4266&lon=-110.6560&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA270 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105580/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105580 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA270 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, and the instructor’s lack of remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=8051604), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8051604), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8051604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8051604), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8051604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight in the glider, the student pilot reported that, he turned onto final approach early as he felt that he was low. The student lined up with the airstrip and reported that the touchdown was not smooth, and the glider was angled slightly to the right. The glider bounded and turned more to the right. Before he could make a correction, the glider veered off the right side of the airstrip and collided with terrain. The flight instructor reported that, he should have been more proactive when the student delayed in turning to the base leg due to his confusion with the runway appearance as he thought that the student could handle things himself. The glider’s empennage was substantially damaged. Neither pilot reported that there were any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2482W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2482W), registered now, S/N 36, built 1967 (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: 36 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 4209 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MT48, Flying Y Ranch, runway 3, 5,614 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 16, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,061 total, 51 in this make and model, 2,646 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 69; injuries: none; student; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KLVM, 19 nm away - METAR: KLVM 231653Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 23/07 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP155 T02110067 ## 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 20220723012999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220723012999A), Jul 23, 2022: Schweizer SGS 2-33, Livingston, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot was providing instruction with student pilot at controls. Student expressed confussion as to picking a reference point to land, CFI had feet and hands… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105580. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14347313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120signed8022022_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14357574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20WPR22LA270-Rel.pdf 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.