Schweizer SGS2-33A accident near Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1993
On September 6, 1993 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS2-33A (glider), registered N34367, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eighty Four, Pennsylvania (Bandel airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S UTILIZATION OF IMPROPER PROCEDURES FOR SETTING THE ALTIMETER WHICH LED TO HIS MISJUDGING ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1993 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eighty Four, Pennsylvania · Bandel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS2-33A · all SGS2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N34367 · registry record · serial 407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT PRIOR TO ANY FLIGHT, HE ALWAYS SET THE GLIDER'S ALTIMETER TO READ AN ALTITUDE OF ZERO FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE GOT INTO THE GLIDER IMMEDIATELY AFTER SOMEONE ELSE GOT OUT, AND THOUGHT HE SET THE ALTIMETER TO READ MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WHILE ON DOWNWIND TO THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE'S ALTIMETER INDICATED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1,000 FEET. HE THOUGHT HE HAD ANOTHER 1,000 FEET TO THE GROUND AND INTENTIONALLY LOST ALTITUDE TO MAKE A LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SOON REALIZED THE GLIDER WAS CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND TURNED LEFT TOWARDS THE RUNWAY TO LAND. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING CONTACTED TREES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE ALTIMETER WAS SET TO THAT DAY'S BAROMETRIC PRESSURE.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 58 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pgh Soaring Club INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from AOO, 20 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.