Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Norman, Oklahoma, July 8, 1990
On July 8, 1990 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N65879, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norman, Oklahoma (David J. Perry airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF PROPER GLIDEPATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1990 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Norman, Oklahoma · David J. Perry
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N65879 · registry record · serial 352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PILOT FLEW AN APPROACH THAT RESULTED IN CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TREES ON THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE AND 760 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. TREES WERE ABOUT 40 FEET TALL AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST SUSPENDED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE GROUND ABOUT 20 DEGREES NOSE LOW.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1990; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,800 ft by 62 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 19 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from OKC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.