Schweizer SGS-2-33A accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, July 22, 1986
On July 22, 1986 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-2-33A (glider), registered N33985, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts (Plymouth airport). It was a personal 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
- July 22, 1986 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts · Plymouth
- 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
- N33985 · no longer on the register · serial 395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE TOW WAS RELEASED FROM THE GLIDER WHEN ITS NOSE STARTED RISING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE GLIDER THENCOLLIDED WITH THE GROUND & WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PLT RPRTED THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY MORE INFO &EMPHASIS ON THE CENTER OF GRAVITY PLACEMENT & USE OF BALLAST.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,213 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 212 in the last 90 days; 1,420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.