Schweizer SGS-2-33A accident near Waynesville, Ohio, November 20, 1999
On November 20, 1999 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A (glider), registered N17883, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waynesville, Ohio (Red Stewart Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delay in remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1999 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesville, Ohio · Red Stewart Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-2-33A · all SGS-2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N17883 · registry record · serial 253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was performing a landing to a grass runway. As the glider neared the ground, it began to float past the intended touchdown point. The flight instructor suggested to the student pilot corrective actions, but did not receive any response. The flight instructor took control of the glider and immediately set the glider onto the runway. Full spoilers and wheel brake were applied, and the nose of the glider was pushed forward. The wheel brake then became locked and the glider began to slide on the wet grass. At the end of the runway, the flight instructor attempted to 'ground loop' the glider in an attempt to avoid impacting a parked glider, and stuck a railroad tie with the right wing. The flight instructor additionally stated that he did not react in time to regain control of the glider after the student landed long.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,045 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,472 as pilot in command; 1,113 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 40I at 9:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,442 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from ILN, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.