# NTSB DFW05CA004: Schweizer SGS 1-26E, N17911, El Paso, TX, October 8, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2004, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.800928, -106.359176 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8009&lon=-106.3592&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05CA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60333/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA004

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during a local soaring flight.  A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - no thermal lift
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

While soaring near El Paso, Texas, the thermal conditions became weak and the glider began to lose altitude. With a landing becoming imminent, the pilot elected to land at a new housing development under construction.  On the landing roll out, the glider bounced over a street curb and the right outboard wing contacted a small tree.  The glider came to rest in an upright position.

## Factual narrative

On October 8, 2004, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E glider, N17911, was substantially damaged during a collision with a tree while executing an off-airport landing near El Paso, Texas.  The private pilot, sole occupant, sustained serious injuries.  The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.  The local flight originated from the Horizon Airport, near El Paso, Texas, at approximately 1300.

According to the 650-hour pilot, while soaring near El Paso, Texas, the thermal conditions became weak and the glider began to lose altitude. The pilot reported that with a landing becoming imminent, he elected to land at a new housing development under construction.  The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, the glider bounced over a street curb and the right outboard wing contacted a small tree.  The glider came to rest in an upright position.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who inspected the glider, the right wing sustained structural damage.

Despite several attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report  (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot, one was not obtained.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17911](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17911), registered now, S/N 541 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 1-26E
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (registry code 8050124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 541
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Harold E Green
- Registered owner: Harold E Green
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: T27, El Paso, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; private; last flight review July 31, 2003; flight hours: 650 total, 650 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: ELP

## 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 20041008027359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041008027359A), Oct 8, 2004: Scwzer SGS126E, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 8, 2004 at 1500 MDT, a schweitzer sgs 1-26E registered to green harold e, [privacy data omitted] collided with a tree on landing off airport…

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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