Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Warner Springs, California, October 17, 1992
On October 17, 1992 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N1176S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warner Springs, California (Warner Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNED APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, AND, HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT ACCELERATED STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1992 · about 7:02 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · Warner Springs · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N1176S · registry record · serial 226
- 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 ENCOUNTERED A HIGHER THAN NORMAL SINK RATE ON DOWNWIND AND ENDED UP LOWER THAN NORMAL ABEAM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. INSTEAD OF TURNING BASE EARLY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON DOWNWIND AND TURN BASE AT THE CUSTOMARY LOCATION. THE PILOT REALIZED HIS PROBLEM ON BASE AND ATTEMPTED TO TIGHTEN THE TURN TO FINAL TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CROSS CONTROLLED THE AIRCRAFT WHILE MAKING THE TURN AND THE GLIDER STALLED, THEN SPUN TO THE GROUND.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,208 hours in all; 585 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,124 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,127 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 21, 1992; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL35 at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CL35
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1176S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer SGS 2 gliders (2-33 and 2-32) 275 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schweizer 1,186 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Warner Springs · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,094 in the last ten years
- California 28,286 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX93LA013.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.