Schweizer 2-33A accident near North Shore, California, January 22, 1983
On January 22, 1983 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Schweizer 2-33A (glider), registered N65808, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Shore, California (Desert Air Sky Ranch 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1983 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- North Shore, California · Desert Air Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 2-33A
- Registration
- N65808 · no longer on the register · serial 298
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RATED AIRPLANE PILOT WAS TAKING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION FOR A GLIDER RATING. HE HAD MADE APRX 11 PREVIOUS SOLO FLTS. THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE BEGAN WHILE THE SAILPLANE WAS BEING LAUNCHED WITH A WENCH TOW. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WENCH CABLE FAILED WHEN THE SAILPLANE WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 100 AGL. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT DELAYED LOWERING THE SAILPLANE'S NOSE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE STALLED & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE CABLE REVEALED THAT IT HAD FAILED AT A SPLICE. THE NICROPRESS (FITTING) USED TO SPICE THE ENDS TOGETHER HAD BECOME WORN.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,670 hours in all; 41 in the last 90 days; 1,442 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,687 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Salton Sea Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.