Schweizer SGU 2-22CK accident near Ephrata, Washington, July 31, 1992
On July 31, 1992 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Schweizer SGU 2-22CK (glider), registered N3907A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ephrata, Washington (Ephrata Municipal 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 PILOT MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE. FACTORS INCLUDE A LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPEREINCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1992 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ephrata, Washington · Ephrata Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGU 2-22CK · all SGU 2-22CKs on the register
- Registration
- N3907A · registry record · serial 66
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT OF THE SGU-2-22 GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY, WHICH WAS BEING USED AS A RUNWAY FOR THE GLIDER ACTIVITY. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, SHE ATTEMPTED A RECOVERY, BUT LANDED IN THE DIRT BESIDE THE TAXIWAY, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: student
- Flight time: 5 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1992; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 6,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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 N3907A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA92LA172.