Schweizer SGS-2-33A accident near Wailua, Hawaii, June 28, 1999
On June 28, 1999 at about 1:00 am local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A (glider), registered N17902, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wailua, Hawaii (Dillingham airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for the existing gusty wind conditions and his improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1999 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Wailua, Hawaii · Dillingham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-2-33A · all SGS-2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N17902 · registry record · serial 292
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the winds were blustery at 15 to 20 knots. He turned to final approach at 350 feet with full spoilers. At 200 feet he reduced spoilers to 25 percent. He was maintaining 75 to 80 miles per hour (mph) and increased spoilers to 50 percent at 100 feet. He stated he experienced a sudden loss of velocity at 25 feet, followed by a nose down attitude. After the glider contacted the runway, the nose went up and the glider became airborne again. The pilot applied full spoilers with a forward slide in an attempt to flare. The nose touched down followed immediately by the tail contacting the ground. The glider became airborne, then touched down and stopped within 15 to 20 feet.
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
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1999; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 9,007 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.