Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Hood River, Oregon, October 4, 1984
On October 4, 1984 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N5786S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hood River, Oregon (Hood River airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1984 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Hood River, Oregon · Hood River · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A · all SGS 2-33As on the register
- Registration
- N5786S · registry record · serial 115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL ON CLIMB OUT, THE TOW PLANE LOST POWER FOR AN UNSPECIFIED REASON. THE GLIDER PILOT RELEASED THE TOW AND EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE COURSE REVERSAL TO A DOWNWIND (15 KTS) LANDING. DURING ROLL OUT, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND, CAUSING AN INADVERTANT GROUND LOOP.
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, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 192 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4S2 Hood River OR at 5:45 pm
- Destination: 4S2 Hood River OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,040 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 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.
Other NTSB records under N5786S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5786S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer SGS 2 gliders (2-33 and 2-32) 275 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schweizer 1,187 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ken Jernstedt Airfield · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,008 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N5786S 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA85LA002.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.