Schweizer SGS-2-33A accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1983
On April 17, 1983 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A (glider), registered N2706H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania (Vansant 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 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
- April 17, 1983 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania · Vansant · 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
- N2706H · registry record · serial 456
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FOR LANDING PRACTICE. ON THE FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING THE GLIDER LOST LIFT AFTER EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE SINK AND CLIPPED THE TOPS OF TREES. THE GLIDER LANDED SHORT OF THE INTENDED AREA AND THE WINGS AND NOSE OF THE ACFT WERE DAMAGED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 320 DEG AT 12 GUSTING 16 KTS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,104 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 170 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,584 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 10, 1982; 1,484 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 Erwinna PA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.