# NTSB LAX01LA038: Schweizer SGS 1-36, N3621R, Lake Elsinore, CA, November 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 2000, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Lake Elsinore, CA - Coordinates: 33.679664, -117.369949 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6797&lon=-117.3699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50629/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged altitude approaching the airstrip and his failure to maintain airspeed resulted in the glider's collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - altitude - not recognized, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis After soaring for about 1 hour, the student pilot headed back to the departure airstrip for landing. Approaching the airstrip, the student misread his altimeter by 800 to 1,000 feet and initiated a circle to lose altitude. Midway through the turn the student realized his error and noted that he was, in fact, low whereupon he headed directly back toward the airstrip. The glider continued to lose lift, and the student did not initiate emergency procedures to make an off-site landing in nearby available fields. While attempting to stretch the glide, the glider stalled and collided with tree branches. Thereafter, it impacted the ground hard about 1/2 mile from the airstrip. The glider came to rest in the front yard of a trailer park. Nearly 2 months prior to the accident flight, the student's flight instructor authorized the student to fly the glider in solo flight. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2000, about 1515 hours Pacific standard time, a Schweizer SGS 1-36, N3621R, operated by the Lake Elsinore Soaring Club, Lake Elsinore, California, collided with trees approaching the Skylark Field in Lake Elsinore. The glider was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was seriously injured. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the student pilot's solo instructional flight, which originated from the airstrip about 1358. According to the student's flight instructor, on September 23, 2000, he had authorized his student to solo the glider in the local area. Regarding the accident flight, after about 1 hour the student planned to return for landing at the airstrip. Approaching the field, the student misread his altimeter and initiated a circle to lose altitude. Midway through the turn the student realized his error, noted that he was low, and headed directly back toward the airstrip. The glider continued to lose lift, and the student did not initiate emergency procedures to make an off-site landing in nearby available fields. The flight instructor further stated that while attempting to stretch the glide, the glider stalled and collided with tree branches. Thereafter, it impacted the ground hard about 1/2 mile from the airstrip. The glider came to rest in the front yard of a trailer park. The student pilot elaborated by reporting that he believed the accident was caused by his error in checking the altimeter and misreading it by 800 to 1,000 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3621R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3621R-2004-02-23), registration cancelled 2004-02-23, S/N 39, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 1-36 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-36](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-36) (registry code 8050153) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 39 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lake Elsinore Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1999 - Departed: CA89 - Airport: CA89, Skylark Field, runway 29R, 2,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; student; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 68 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 45 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 129 °F, dew point 90 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 15 nm away ## 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 20001111023439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001111023439A), Nov 11, 2000: Scwzer SGS136, Lake Elsimore, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was on a supervised solo glider flight in the local flying area. After approx. one hour of flight the pilot was returning to 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.