# NTSB WPR26LA246: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, N5790S, Lake Elsinore, CA, July 5, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2026, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Lake Elsinore, CA
- Coordinates: 33.632978, -117.30157
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6330&lon=-117.3016&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203336
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203336/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203336
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA246

## 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.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 2-33A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8051606), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that he extended the downwind leg to accommodate a departing tow airplane. During the subsequent approach, the glider was high. The pilot did not use the dive brakes to reduce altitude and attempted a forward slip; however, the glider remained high and fast throughout the approach. As a result, the glider touched down near the end and right side of the runway. During the subsequent landing rollout, the right wing struck a person on the ground, which resulted in serious injury. The glider then ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5790S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5790S), registered now, S/N 117, built 1968 (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: 117
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 5651.6
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lake Elsinore Soaring Club
- Registered owner: Lake Elsinore Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CA89, Skylark Airport, runway 11R, 2,701 × 90 ft, dirt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; student; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 123.9 total, 23.9 in this make and model, 6.3 in the last 90 days, 3.9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KHMT, 15 nm away
- METAR: METAR KHMT 051835Z AUTO 10SM CLR 31/11 A3000 RMK AO2

## 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 20260705007609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260705007609A), Jul 5, 2026: Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Lake Elsinore, CA, Substantial damage. Facts: on July 5, 2026, the pilot onboard Schweizer sgs 2-33A, [privacy data omitted], was towed up to altitude in the vicinity of Skylark Field (CA89). Based…

## 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 SEA94LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA078), Mar 8, 1994: Schweizer 2-33A (N5790S), Heber City, UT, substantial damage. 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.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203336. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20719690&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20719366&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20990881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Club%20President%20(Witness)%20Statement%20Redacted_Redacted-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.

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