Schweizer SGS 2-33 accident near Marana, Arizona, January 31, 1987
On January 31, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33 (glider), registered N5727S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marana, Arizona (El Tiro Glider Port 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 31, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · El Tiro Glider Port
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33 · all SGS 2-33s on the register
- Registration
- N5727S · registry record · serial 71
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A WINCH TOW, THE CABLE PREMATURELY RELEASED THE GLIDER AT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 150 FEET. THE GLIDER REMAINED IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE MOMENTARILY THEN BEGAN A SHALLOW DESCENDING RIGHT TURN. AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET THE ROLL, PITCH, AND DESCENT RATE ACCELERATED. THE GLIDER COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 140 DEGREES OF TURN THEN COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. SERVICE BULLETIN NO. SA-001 AND AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 87-02-01 WERE ADOPTED TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INADVERTENT TOW-HOOK RELEASE DURING TOWING OPERATIONS. THE AD HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from TUS, 30 miles away
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.