Schweizer SGS-2-33A accident near Little River, South Carolina, July 24, 1982
On July 24, 1982 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A (glider), registered N1181S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Little River, South Carolina (Cypress Bay airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1982 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Little River, South Carolina · Cypress Bay
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-2-33A · all SGS-2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N1181S · no longer on the register · serial 231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER STRUCK THE LEFT WING OF ANOTHER GLIDER OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. THE OTHER GLIDER, N1211S WAS BEING READED FOR A FLIGHT AND WAS POSITIONED WITH ITS LEFT WING OVERLAPPING THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF N1211S ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE GLIDER AWAY FROM N1181S, BUT THE WIND CAUGHT THE LEFT WING AND RAISED IT HIGH ENOUGH TO COLLIDE WITH THE LEFT WING OF THE LANDING GLIDER. NORMALLY, RUNWAY 33 WAS USED TO LAUNCH THE GLIDERS WHILE RUNWAY 15 WAS UTILIZED FOR LANDINGS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,468 hours in all; 309 in this make and model; 380 in the last 90 days; 1,279 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,189 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5J8 Little River SC
- Destination: 5J8 Little River SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 155° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 187°F (86°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1181S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.