Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Preble, New York, September 29, 1985
On September 29, 1985 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N33920, was substantially damaged in an accident near Preble, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 29, 1985 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Preble, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N33920 · no longer on the register · serial 410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SCHWEIZER N33920, COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE WHILE EXECUTING A GO AROUND AT PREBLE AIRPORT, NY. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PLT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PLT STATED THAT THE FIRST TWO FLIGHTS WERE UNEVENTFUL, BUT NOTICED THE STALL SPEED WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL AND SEEMED TO BE ENTERING A STALL AT A HIGHER SPEED THAN IS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUAL. APPLYING SPOILERS DID NOT CORRECT THE AIRSPEED,. THE PLT SAID THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PULLINGTHE TRIM TAB CONTROL INSTEAD OF THE SPOILERS. ON THE LANDING THE ACFT BOUNCED. ON PULLUP THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK A POLE. THE ACFT LANDED IN TREES, THEN SLID FLATLY TO THE GROUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 787 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 674 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,637 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1985; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Thermal Ridge at 4:53 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 64°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.