# NTSB LAX80DUG50: Schweizer SGS126, N17916, Rabbit Dry Lk, CA, August 9, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 9, 1980
- Place: Rabbit Dry Lk, CA · RABBIT DRY LK, CA
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 2, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129955
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DUG50
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DUG50

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1656   80/8/9  NR.RABBIT DRY LK,CA   SCHWEIZER SGS126    CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 267
        TIME - 1430                    N17916              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 87 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RABBIT DRY LAKE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         RABBIT DRY LK,CA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LIGHT AND VARIABLE
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           105                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- AUTO TOW FM DRY LK,ELEV 3000FT,TEMP 105DEG F.VEHICLE SLOW TO ACLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17916](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17916), registered now, S/N 560, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS126
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (registry code 8050124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Rabbit Dry Lake

## 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 19800809036169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800809036169A), Aug 9, 1980: Scwzer SGS126E, Lucerne, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot was making an ato tow. Auto was slow to accellerate. Pilot release from the auto, lost airspeed.

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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