# NTSB CEN25LA202: Schweizer SGS 1-26C, N9839E, Hampshire, IL, June 1, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2025, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Hampshire, IL
- Coordinates: 42.153961, -88.511495
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1540&lon=-88.5115&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200294
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200294/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200294
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA202

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper altitude during the approach, which resulted in overshooting the landing area, a runway excursion, and impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8050120), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8050120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8050120), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8050120), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=8050120), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8050120), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while maneuvering the glider for landing on runway 27, he encountered unexpected lift and then used a side slip maneuver to descend. He descended too low to continue the approach, so he maneuvered to land on runway 9 and landed about two-thirds of the way down the runway. The glider overran the departure end of the runway and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9839E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9839E), registered now, S/N 270, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26C
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26c) (registry code 8050120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 270
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 850
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2025
- Airport: 55LL, Sky Soaring, runway 09/27, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; last flight review April 14, 2024; seat: single

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KDKB, 16 nm away
- METAR: KDKB 011955Z AUTO 35006KT 10SM CLR 23/05 A2993 RMK AO2 T02310046

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250601012739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250601012739A), Jun 1, 2025: Schweizer SGS 1-26C, Hampshire, IL, Substantial damage. On June 1, 2025, at 1500 local time, a private pilot was operating a Schweizer sgs 1-26C glider, in the vicinity of Sky Soaring Airport (55LL) in Hampshire, IL…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200294. 9.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 7.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18917238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 944 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18920744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_N9839E-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18921432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Photos-Rel.pdf

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.

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