Schweizer SGS2-33A accident near Fremont, California, March 7, 1983
On March 7, 1983, a Schweizer SGS2-33A (glider), registered N7547, suffered minor damage in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky Sailing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- March 7, 1983
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky Sailing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS2-33A · all SGS2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N7547 · registry record · serial 177
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT BANGED INTO THE GROUND DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. THE GLIDER HAD SWERVED OFF THE RWY DURING THE TOW INTO A MUDDY GRASS AREA, THE PLT ATTEMPTED A PREMATURE TAKEOFF TO PREVENT GETTING STRUCK IN THE MUD. HE STATED THAT LACK OF FORWARD SPEED AND THE ANGLE OF THE TOW ROPE CAUSE THE ACFT TO 'SLAM BACK INTO THE GROUND.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 807 Freemont CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,840 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from SJC, 141 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N7547 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.