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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1992 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · Warner Springs · 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 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX93LA013.