Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Nellysford, Virginia, June 13, 2021
On June 13, 2021 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1975 Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N33929, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nellysford, Virginia (Rockfish airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glide path to the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2021 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nellysford, Virginia · Rockfish · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A, built 1975 · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N33929 · registry record · serial 411
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight in a glider, the student was high on the final approach, deployed the spoilers and entered a forward slip. The flight instructor stated that shortly after, the student “suddenly and unexpectedly” pulled back on the control stick while the rudder and ailerons were cross controlled. The flight instructor immediately took control, pushed the control stick forward and closed the spoilers; however, insufficient altitude remained for a full recovery, which resulted in a hard landing and serious injuries to the instructor. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 428 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 362 as pilot in command; 33 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 19, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,516.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Shenandoah Valley Soaring INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,700 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from SHD, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSHD 131835Z AUTO 13003KT 10SM SCT034 BKN075 BKN085 29/20 A2993 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NE T02870200
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 28, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 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 N33929 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.