# NTSB ERA26LA138: Glasflugel Kestrel, N9919, Little Switzerland, NC, March 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 5, 2026, 13:59 local (18:59 UTC) - Place: Little Switzerland, NC - Coordinates: 35.853283, -82.113383 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8533&lon=-82.1134&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202606/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202606 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA138 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Glasflugel KESTREL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3800343), [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. - [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Glasflugel KESTREL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3800343), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Glasflugel KESTREL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3800343), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Glasflugel KESTREL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3800343), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the glider had located five possible locations for off airport landings in advance of the glider flying event. On the accident flight, after receiving an aerotow, he maneuvered in the local area and found thermal lift that he used to climb further. After finding additional lift, the pilot flew across a ridge line toward a mountain where he hoped to find additional lift but was unsuccessful. He then turned around attempted to cross back over the ridge line where he knew there were several sites for an off-airport landing. The pilot realized that he would not be able to cross the ridge and then observed a private turf runway that he had not previously seen. During his landing approach the glider struck trees about 200 ft short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to its fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9919](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9919), registered now, S/N 4, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLASFLUGEL KESTREL - Registry model: [Glasflugel KESTREL](https://openairdocs.org/model/glasflugel-kestrel) (registry code 3800343) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 4 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 2856 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2026 - Departed: 9A9, Marion, NC - Airport: N/A, Strawberry Ridge, runway 09, 1,174 × 42 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2024; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 268 total, 12 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KMRN, 25 nm away - METAR: METAR KMRN 051855Z AUTO 20008KT 160V230 10SM CLR 27/13 A3017 RMK AO2 T02670127= ## 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 20260305001839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260305001839A), Mar 5, 2026: Glasflugel KESTREL, Spruce Pine, NC, Substantial damage. On March 5 at approximately 1815 UTC, a Glasflugel Kestrel glider departed shiflet field airport (9A9), marion, NC, for a local soaring flight. Weather… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202606. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20387489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20MPTPDF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - flight path traces (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20375230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Flight%20path%20Traces%20v01-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20375479&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20v01_ERA26LA138-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15, and NTSB evidence control form (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 612 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20386022&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20%26%20ECF_Redacted-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.