Schweizer SGS 2-33A accident near Hood River, Oregon, April 19, 2025
On April 19, 2025 at about 6:37 pm local time, a 1968 Schweizer SGS 2-33A (glider), registered N5786S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Hood River, Oregon (Ken Jernstedt Airfield). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2025 · about 6:37 pm local time
- Place
- Hood River, Oregon · Ken Jernstedt Airfield · 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, built 1968 · 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
The flight instructor reported that while turning final, the glider encountered a loss of lift and there was not sufficient altitude to reach the airport. The instructor chose to land in an orchard, and during the landing roll, the glider struck several small trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 lift during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Thermal lifting › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 372.2 hours in all; 16.9 in this make and model; 78.7 in the last 90 days; 33.3 in the last 30 days; 357.9 as pilot in command; 107.8 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 16, 2024
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 4 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,841 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 24, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 4S2 Hood River OR at 6:31 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07/2, 3,040 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from K4S2, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K4S2 191835Z AUTO 31012G20KT 260V320 10SM CLR 15/02 A3013 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N5786S 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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR25LA138.