Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Sanford, Maine, June 5, 2021
On June 5, 2021 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1969 Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N7776S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sanford, Maine (Sanford Seacoast Rgnl 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2021 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Maine · Sanford Seacoast Rgnl · 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, built 1969 · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N7776S · registry record · serial 146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing, a gust of wind displaced the glider laterally to the left. She attempted to maneuver for a normal landing on the grass runway; however, the glider was too low to maneuver around a parked glider. She landed at an angle on the runway, and the glider ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the glider on runway 25 with wind from 260° at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
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 control in flight during landing defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 27, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,080 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.74 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from SFM
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSFM 051956Z AUTO 26012G17KT 10SM FEW070 SCT080 OVC100 32/18 A2974 RMK AO2 SLP073 T03170178=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 3, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Information from FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7776S 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.