Schweizer SGS-2-33A accident near Fremont, California, October 20, 1991
On October 20, 1991 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A (glider), registered N17886, was destroyed in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky Sailing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1991 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky Sailing
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-2-33A · all SGS-2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N17886 · no longer on the register · serial 256
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE 206-HOUR GLIDER PILOT, HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW AIRPLANE AT 3,500 FEET MSL AND STAYED NEAR THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. AFTER DESCENDING TO 1,000 FEET THE PILOT ENTERED THE LANDING TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE TURN ONTO THE BASE AND FINAL APPROACH LEGS APPEARED NORMAL. ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE GLIDER'S RATE OF DESCENT RAPIDLY INCREASED, AND THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE ROOF OF A BUILDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS BETWEEN 9 AND 10 MPH, AND THE WIND WAS NOT GUSTY.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (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 022° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.