Schweizer SGS2-33A accident near Los Alamitos, California, May 22, 2007
On May 22, 2007 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS2-33A (glider), registered N65844, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Alamitos, California (Los Alamitos Army Airfield). It was a personal 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
failure of the towrope during the initial climb out.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2007 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Los Alamitos, California · Los Alamitos Army Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS2-33A · all SGS2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N65844 · no longer on the register · serial 335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a normal winch launch, the towrope broke about 300 feet above ground. The pilot made a shallow approach due to the low altitude, and was forced to land the glider at an angle to the runway. The glider skidded off the runway where it struck a parked truck that was about 75 feet from the runway edge.
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: 806 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 715 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol - California Wing
The flight
- Departed from: SLI Los Alamitos CA at 10:50 pm
- Destination: SLI Los Alamitos CA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N65844 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.