Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Warner Springs, California, February 4, 2002
On February 4, 2002 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N34292, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warner Springs, California (Warner Springs 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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing sequence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2002 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · Warner Springs · map
- 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
- N34292 · registry record · serial 412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On approach, the glider drifted off the runway centerline and the left wing contacted a tree and landed hard on the runway. The student pilot was unable to return the glider to the runway centerline after his control input cross-controlled the glider, and it drifted further off the centerline. He maneuvered to avoid a tree and stalled the glider. The pilot noted no mechanical anomalies with the glider.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 9 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 2002; 3,283 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL35 Warner Springs CA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: CL35
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,700 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CRQ
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.