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Atlas / NTSB / BFO92LA003

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event BFO92LA003

1991-10-26 WAYNESBORO, Virginia, United States Airport · W13 Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N34396

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A

Year of manufacture

1975 · 16 years old at event

Engine

NONE NONE

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19751215

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A3CC25

Registrant of record

SWETT FRANK M

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI). CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MONITOR THE STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE.

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT GLIDER PILOT REALIZED THAT HE HAD DRIFTED TOO FAR FROM HIS DEPARTURE FIELD. HE ASKED THE INSTRUCTOR TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR CONSIDERED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD BUT DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. AS THE INSTRUCTOR MANEUVERED FOR THE APPROACH OVER A HIGH POINT OF GROUND, THE GLIDER STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE AND CRASHED SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_BFO92LA003.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.