Schweizer SGS2-33A accident near Miami, Florida, February 19, 2000
On February 19, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS2-33A (glider), registered N65819, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Florida (Miami Gliderport airport). 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 planned the approach too low, which resulted in inadequate altitude to clear powerlines, and the subsequent in-flight collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Miami Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS2-33A · all SGS2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N65819 · registry record · serial 307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on approach the glider did not have sufficient altitude to clear power lines about 150 feet from the runway. The pilot turned the glider to the left to avoid contacting the power lines. The left wing tip contacted the ground. The glider came to rest heading in the opposite direction short of the runway. The pilot never returned the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and his account of the events are not known.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,900 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,036 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 510 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from MIA, 6 miles away
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.