Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Williamstown, Massachusetts, January 26, 1991
On January 26, 1991 at about 6:07 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N5763S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamstown, Massachusetts. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RETRACT THE SPEED BRAKES DURING THE PREFLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOW AIRPLANE BEING UNABLE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE PRIOR TO RELEASING THE GLIDER, AND THE SUBSEQUENT LANDING OF THE GLIDER ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1991 · about 6:07 pm local time
- Place
- Williamstown, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N5763S · no longer on the register · serial 96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DID NOT RETRACT THE SPEED BRAKES PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE TOW PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AND HAD TO RELEASE THE GLIDER AT A LOW ALTITUDE. THE GLIDER PILOT THEN RETRACTED THE SPEED BRAKES, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLIMB. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING AND STRUCK A POLE. THE GLIDER PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 26 HOURS IN GLIDERS.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,004 hours in all; 1,986 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK/NA (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.