Schweizer 2-33A accident near Orlando, Florida, December 29, 1984
On December 29, 1984 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Schweizer 2-33A (glider), registered N1229S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando West airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1984 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 2-33A
- Registration
- N1229S · registry record · serial 214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS FLARED FOR LANDING ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THE RWY AT EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. THE PLT STATED THAT AS THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN, IT BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND IMPACTED TREES AT 10-15 FT AGL. THE SPOILERS WERE FOUND IN A RETRACTED POSITION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A SUPERVISED SOLO TRAINING FLT. THE STUDENT PLT HAD LOGGED LESS THAN AN HOUR OF PIC FLT TIME. THE PLT LATER WROTE A REPORT IN WHICH HE STATED THAT 'I HAD REVERSED THE SPOILER CONTROLS IN MY MIND. WHENI THOUGHT I HAD THEN FULL OPEN, THEY WERE ACTUALLY CLOSED.'
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
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,513 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X30 Orlando FL at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,430 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from ORL
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.