Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Hilltown, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1994
On November 19, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N33938, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilltown, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Gliderport 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
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hilltown, Pennsylvania · Philadelphia Gliderport
- 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
- N33938 · no longer on the register · serial 398
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RELEASED FROM TOW AT THREE THOUSAND FEET AGL. THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO FIND LIFT AND RETURNED TO THE GLIDERPORT. DURING A LOW FINAL APPROACH THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER STRUCK TREES. THE GLIDER ROTATED INTO THE TREES WHERE IT BECAME LODGED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY 'BETTER LANDING PREPARATION. [AND BY] PLANNING A HIGHER PATTERN.'
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
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,084 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1994; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPAO at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.