# NTSB LAX81DVG25: Schweizer SGS136, N3616C, Calistoga, CA, April 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 14, 1981
- Place: Calistoga, CA · CALISTOGA, CA
- Location: 38.5814° N, 122.5827° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Calistoga, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5814&lon=-122.5827&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126265
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVG25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVG25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0901  81/4/14    CALISTOGA,CA        SCHWEIZER SGS136    CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 15, 12 TOTAL
        TIME - 1230                    N3616C              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 1 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CALISTOGA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CALISTOGA,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        REMARKS- MISREAD ALTIMETER BY 1000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3616C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3616C-1984-07-11), registration cancelled 1984-07-11, S/N 6 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS136
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-36](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-36) (registry code 8050153) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Calistoga

## 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 19810414032249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810414032249A), Apr 14, 1981: Scwzer SGS1*, Calistoga, CA, Destroyed. Student glider pilot misread altimeter & then realized mistake. Stalled trying to stretch glide.

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.