Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Maricopa, Arizona, September 2, 2004
On September 2, 2004 at about 9:22 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N2873H, was destroyed in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona (Estrella Sailport airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's encounter with a dust devil during landing flare, which resulted in a hard touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2004 · about 9:22 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · Estrella Sailport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N2873H · no longer on the register · serial 543
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider landed hard on touchdown. The student pilot encountered what witnesses described as a "really large" dust devil during the landing flare. Thereafter, the glider's nose pitched downward, and the glider impacted the ground hard. The student's traffic pattern approach to runway 24C had been normal. The prevailing wind was from 240 degrees, between 5 and 10 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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E68 Maricopa AZ
- Destination: E68 Maricopa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24C
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.