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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2021 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Nellysford, Virginia · Rockfish · cases near this airport · 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 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
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 · our copy | 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
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N33929 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer SGS 2 gliders (2-33 and 2-32) 275 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schweizer 1,186 aircraft on the register
- Rockfish Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,972 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N33929 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA21LA248.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.