Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Manchester, Michigan, July 5, 1992
On July 5, 1992 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N2524H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manchester, Michigan (Rossettie 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS, FAILURE TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS TOO LOW TO REACH THE AIRPORT, AND ATTEMPTING TO STRETCH HIS GLIDEPATH TO REACH THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1992 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Michigan · Rossettie · 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
- N2524H · registry record · serial 454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT GLIDER REALIZED HE WAS TOO LOW FOR A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 36 AS HE NEARED HIS HOME AIRPORT FROM THE NORTH. HE ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT IN ON RUNWAY 18 AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO STRETCH HIS GLIDEPATH IN ORDER TO REACH IT WHEN HE COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE AND A TREE WHICH WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON THE AIRPORT FACING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 122 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1992; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kittyhawk Soaring Club, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,465 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from JXN, 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.