# NTSB FTW02LA237: Schweizer SGS 1-26B, N696U, Hobbs, NM, August 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2002, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM - Coordinates: 32.6875, -103.216941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6875&lon=-103.2169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55495/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA237 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions which resulted in the loss of thermal lift. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft - weather condition - no thermal lift - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot reported that approximately 5 to 10 miles east of the airport, the glider was "thermaling" at 8,000 feet msl. The glider encountered a downdraft with a rainshower, and subsequently, quickly lost altitude. Unable to locate a thermal to gain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. While attempting to land in the field, the glider struck a wire fence. The glider came to rest upright and tangled in the fence wire. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2002, approximately 1545 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26B glider, N696U, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence during a forced landing to a field near Hobbs, New Mexico. The private pilot, sole occupant of the glider, sustained serious injuries. The glider was registered to and operated by the Hobbs Soaring Society Inc., of Hobbs. 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 departed from the Hobbs Industrial Airpark, near Hobbs, approximately 1330. The pilot reported that approximately 5 to 10 miles east of the airport, the glider was "thermaling" at 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The glider encountered a downdraft with a rainshower, and subsequently, quickly lost altitude. Unable to locate a thermal to gain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. While attempting to land in the field, the glider struck a wire fence. The glider came to rest upright and tangled in the fence wire. The elevation at the accident site was 3,700 feet msl. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, both wing spars were bent and the canopy was destroyed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N696U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N696U), registered now, S/N 311 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 1-26B - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26b) (registry code 8050118) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 311 - Airframe hours: 1701 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hobbs Soaring Society Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 2002, 12 hours before - Departed: HOB, HOBBS, NM - Destination: HOB ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review September 22, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 116 total, 13 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 108 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg ## 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 20020815021879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020815021879A), Aug 15, 2002: Scwzer SGS126B, Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On 08/15/02, pilot amy pence (certificate number 463472775) was involved in an accident while operating Schweizer glider, registration number N696U. The… 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.