Schweizer 2-33 accident near Freeport, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Schweizer 2-33 (glider), registered N65859, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeport, Pennsylvania (Mcville 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 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
- June 5, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Freeport, Pennsylvania · Mcville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 2-33
- Registration
- N65859 · registry record · serial 347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING LANDING. THE GLIDER HAD EXPERIENCED LOSS OF LIFT SHORTLY AFTER A RELEASE FROM TOW AT 2500 FT AGL. HEAVY SINK AND ALT LOSS WAS ENCOUNTERED AND CONTINUED. THE PILOT STARTED A LONG STRAIGHT IN FINAL APPROACH TO LAND BUT IT WAS STARTED A LITTLE LATE AND THE GLIDER HAD INSUFFICIENT ALT LEFT TO CLEAR A FENCE AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE GLIDER WINGS STRUCK THE FENCE POSTS. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 332 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 273 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 914 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 23, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: G06 Freeport PA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,300 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.