Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Fremont, California, November 11, 1983
On November 11, 1983 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N1239S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California. It was an instructional 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
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
- November 11, 1983 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N1239S · registry record · serial 221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING AN AERO TOW TO 3,000 FT MSL & BEING RELEASED 5 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE ARPT, THE PLT THERMALED FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. HE THEN DESCENDED TO 2,300 FT MSL & TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. HE ENCOUNTERED 'HEAVY SINK' HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RWY. HE ATTEMPTED TO STRETCH HIS GLIDE & THE GLIDER STALLED AT 20 FT AGL ABOUT 100 YDS FROM THE ARPT.
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: 14 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,090 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.