Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, June 29, 1989
On June 29, 1989 at about 4:00 am local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N2059T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DOWNDRAFTS ALONG THE RIDGE LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1989 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii · 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
- N2059T · no longer on the register · serial 489
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS SOARING ALONG A RIDGE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST 330' AGL. HE SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 318 hours in all; 49 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 285 as pilot in command; 188 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
The flight
- Departed from: HDH Haleiwa, Oahu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 045° at 15 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.