# Accident 20260305001839A: Glasflugel KESTREL, Spruce Pine, NC, March 5, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 5, 2026, 14:53 local time
- Place: Spruce Pine, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8533° N, 82.1134° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8533&lon=-82.1134&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9919, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9919) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Glasflugel KESTREL (registry code 3800343, https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-kestrel) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GLASFLUGEL KESTREL
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 268 total, 12 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260305001839A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 5 AT APPROXIMATELY 1815 UTC, A GLASFLUGEL KESTREL GLIDER DEPARTED SHIFLET FIELD AIRPORT (9A9), MARION, NC, FOR A LOCAL SOARING FLIGHT. WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDED VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 10 STATUTE MILES, SCATTERED CLOUDS AT APPROXIMATELY 6,500 FEET, AND LIGHT SURFACE WINDS.

THE GLIDER WAS AEROTOWED AND RELEASED NORTH OF 9A9 AT APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL), OR ABOUT 3,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL). THE PILOT MANEUVERED NORTH AND JOINED TWO OTHER GLIDERS CIRCLING IN A THERMAL. THE GLIDER CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET MSL BEFORE DEPARTING THE THERMAL AND PROCEEDING NORTHWEST ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY.

AFTER MANUEVERING IN THE AREA FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THE PILOT FELT THAT THE THERMAL WAS DISAPPATING, MADE THE DETERMINATION TO LAND AND OBSERVED A GRASS AIRSTRIP LATER IDENTIFIED AS STRAWBERRY RIDGE, A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR LITTLE SWITZERLAND, NC.

WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRSTRIP, THE GLIDER DESCENDED AND CONTACTED TREES DURING A LEFT BASE TURN TO FINAL. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A WOODED AREA ON A STEEP SLOPE.

THE PILOT EXITED THE COCKPIT AND REMAINED NEAR THE WRECKAGE UNTIL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARRIVED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA138), Mar 5, 2026: Glasflugel Kestrel (N9919), Little Switzerland, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of thermal lift during a glider flight, which resulted in a collision with trees during a landing approach to a diversionary airport.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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