Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Union, Illinois, October 25, 1987
On October 25, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N1219S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Union, Illinois (Sky Soaring 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 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
- October 25, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Union, 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 · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N1219S · registry record · serial 209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS APPROACHING TO LAND WHEN, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING 'TOO FAST' AND HIS AIRSPEED WAS 'TOO SLOW'. THE PILOT THEN REALIZED HE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND DECIDED TO LAND THE GLIDER IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE RIGHT WING FIRST, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
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: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55LL Union IL
- Destination: 55LL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from DPA, 18 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.