Schweizer SGS 2 33A accident near Hampshire, Illinois, September 2, 2013
On September 2, 2013 at about 9:25 pm local time, a 1976 Schweizer SGS 2 33A (glider), registered N2668H, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Hampshire, Illinois (Sky Soaring 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 student pilot's inadequate compensation for landing area conditions during an off-airport landing which resulted in a collision with an obstruction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2013 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Hampshire, Illinois · Sky Soaring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2 33A UNDESIGNAT, built 1976 · all SGS 2 33As on the register
- Registration
- N2668H · registry record · serial 438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported his glider was about one mile from his destination airport and thought he had enough altitude to make the field, but then he encountered a sink rate. He realized that he would not be able to clear power lines at the edge of the runway so the student pilot decided to make an off field landing in a large open field bordered by several obstructions. During the landing the right wing struck a small tree when the glider was still several feet above ground. The glider landed abruptly and the impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot added that the accident could have been prevented if he had earlier recognized the need to land out and if he had prepared for the event at a higher altitude.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of lift during approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 3, 2013
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (none); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55LL Hampshire IL at 9:02 pm
- Destination: 55LL Hampshire IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KDKB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.