Schweizer SGS 2-33 accident near Livingston, Montana, July 23, 2022
On July 23, 2022 at about 4:14 pm local time, a 1967 Schweizer SGS 2-33 (glider), registered N2482W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Livingston, Montana (Flying y Ranch 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 student pilot’s improper landing flare, and the instructor’s lack of remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2022 · about 4:14 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Livingston, Montana · Flying y Ranch · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-33, built 1967 · all SGS 2-33s on the register
- Registration
- N2482W · registry record · serial 36
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight in the glider, the student pilot reported that, he turned onto final approach early as he felt that he was low. The student lined up with the airstrip and reported that the touchdown was not smooth, and the glider was angled slightly to the right. The glider bounded and turned more to the right. Before he could make a correction, the glider veered off the right side of the airstrip and collided with terrain. The flight instructor reported that, he should have been more proactive when the student delayed in turning to the base leg due to his confusion with the runway appearance as he thought that the student could handle things himself. The glider’s empennage was substantially damaged. Neither pilot reported that there were any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,061 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,646 as pilot in command; 9 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2021
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,614 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KLVM, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLVM 231653Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 23/07 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP155 T02110067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2482W 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
- Flying Y Ranch Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Montana 1,121 since 1982 · 166 in the last ten years
- Montana 6,045 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA270.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.