Schweizer 2-33A accident near Warrenton, Virginia, July 7, 1985
On July 7, 1985 at about 5:27 pm local time, a Schweizer 2-33A (glider), registered N65818, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia (Warrenton Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1985 · about 5:27 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Warrenton Airpark · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 2-33A
- Registration
- N65818 · registry record · serial 303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LIFTOFF BOTH THE PIC AND THE PLT GETTING CHECKED OUT IN THE SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A STATED THAT THEY ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE IN THE AREA. WHEN THE SAILPLANE RECHED APPROXIMATELY 200 FT AGL THE TOM ROPE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND N65818 WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING DURING WHICH THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PIC SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE TOW HOOK RELEASE SPRING TENSION WAS SET WITHIN MANUFACTURERS LIMITS AND ALL OTHER AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS APPEARED TO WORK PROPERLY.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 545 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,215 ft by 85 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from IAD, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N65818 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N65818 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer 1,186 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,972 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N65818 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO85LA053.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.