Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Durango, Colorado, August 9, 1986
On August 9, 1986, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N7590, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (Val Air Airstrip airport). It was a personal 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 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
- August 9, 1986
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Val Air Airstrip · 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
- N7590 · no longer on the register · serial 180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND HIS GLIDER. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND IN A NEARBY PASTURE. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN HE DISCOVERED SOME CATTLE IN THE FIELD BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ONE OF THE ANIMALS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGED HOWEVER THE PLT WAS UNINJURED.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 63 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 73 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9CO8 Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:06 am from DRO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7590 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.