Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Fremont, California, September 17, 1983
On September 17, 1983 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N57835, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 17, 1983 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N57835 · no longer on the register · serial 114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PLT, HE HAD FOUND AN AREA OF LIFT AFTER RELEASING FROM THE TOW PLANE & HAD SOARED TO 2100 FT. HOWEVER, WHILE HE WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT, HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE TOO LOW TO REACH THE RWY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK A BUILDING WITH THE LEFT WING, THEN THE RIGHT WING ENCOUNTERED TELEPHONE LINES. THE GLIDER CAME TO REST WITH THE RIGHT WING SUSPENDED BY THE LINES. REPORTEDLY, ALL OF THE STUDENT'S FLT TIME IN GLIDERS WAS ACCUMULATED ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO HAD 20 HRS FLT TIME IN SINGLE ENG ACFT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,070 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 1, 1983; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown 06 (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,840 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.