Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1995
On August 13, 1995 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N5750S, 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 flight instructor's inadequate supervision during the final approach which resulted in the student flying a low approach and a subsequent collision with the trees. A factor relating to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1995 · about 8:55 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
- N5750S · registry record · serial 50
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT HAD RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING AFTER CONDUCTING AIRWORK. DURING THE APPROACH THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE ASKED THE STUDENT HOW THE ALTITUDE LOOKED FOR THE APPROACH, AND '...HE [THE STUDENT] RESPONDED THAT WE WERE HIGH AND IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE DIVE BRAKES FULLY AND PUT IN A MODERATE SLIP. I SAID NO....I PUSHED THE DIVE BRAKES SHUT AND TOLD THE STUDENT TO TAKE OUT THE SLIP....I AIMED FOR A NOTCH IN THE TREES, PUT IN [A] CRAB TO STOP THE SIDE DRIFT AND FLY ALONG THE LINE OF THE RUNWAY....BOTH WINGTIPS HIT THE TREES....' ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WITH THE GLIDER.
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: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 148 as pilot in command; 45 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1995; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 1,340 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.