Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, July 12, 1998
On July 12, 1998 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N17901, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis Terry Airpor airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the delayed in-flight decision of the pilot in command to take control of the aircraft and the proper airspeed not obtained/maintained by the pilot in command which resulted in a stall. A factor to the accident was the runway light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1998 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Terry Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N17901 · registry record · serial 291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor stated that when they turned base to final they were approximately 250' above ground level (agl). The CFI told the student to use 'Full' spoilers to bring the aircraft back on a normal glide path to the runway. The CFI stated that at approximately 100' agl the student had 'Full' spoilers deployed and had an excessive nose down attitude. The CFI told the student 'Close' the spoilers and bring the nose up to reduce the excessive airspeed. The CFI stated that the student began to bring the nose up, without closing the spoilers, and that he took control of the aircraft at this point. The CFI closed the spoilers completely but the aircraft was already entering a stall. The CFI stated that he reduced the angle of attack in order to regain airspeed and then flared close to the ground. The CFI stated that the aircraft 'Pancaked-in, a landing hard enough to throw me into the shoulder straps and my head down so that briefly I could not see outside.' The aircraft drifted to right side of the runway and the right wing impacted a runway light before coming to a stop.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 489 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 227 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,718 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1998; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I52 at 3:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from IND, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.