Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Warrenton, Virginia, May 19, 1985
On May 19, 1985 at about 8:17 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N2885H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia (Warrenton Air Park airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 19, 1985 · about 8:17 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Warrenton Air Park
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N2885H · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS OBTAINING TRANSITION TNG FM PWRD ACFT TO GLIDERS AND HAD FLOWN 3 DUAL FLTS N N2885H ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT WITH AN INSTRUCTION ON BOARD. THE CFI THEN AUTHORIZED HIM TO FLY HIS LIST SOLO FLT AND ACFT TKOF OBSVD THE GLIDER MAKE WHAT HE CONSIDERED A NORMAL BASE LEG FOLLOWED BY A FLAT SKIDDING TURN TO FINAL AND SUBSEQUENT OVERSHOOTING OF THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF THE APPROACH END OF RWY 15. THE PLT THEN EXECUTED STEEP S-TURNS BACK TOWARDS THE RWY DURING WHICH THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING AND THE ACFT CARTWHEELING TO THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 346 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 204 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9W0 VA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 9W0 Warrenton VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 1,922 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from IAD, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.