# NTSB LAX91LA346: Schweizer SGS 126E, N65932, Sutcliffe, NV, August 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1991, 17:00 local (Aug 4, 1991, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Sutcliffe, NV
- Coordinates: 39.90908, -119.680992 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9091&lon=-119.6810&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 March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27317
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA346
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27317/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA346

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL OF THE GLIDER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - no thermal lift
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS PARTICIPATING IN A GLIDER COMPETITION WHEN THE LOSS OF THERMAL LIFT NECESSITATED AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE PILOT OVERSHOT HIS INTENDED LANDING POINT ON A ROAD AND BEGAN A MANEUVERING TURN TO AGAIN LINE UP ON THE ROAD. DURING THE TURN, THE PILOT STALLED THE GLIDER ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, DESCENDING IN ABOUT A 60 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND ROTATING CLOCKWISE ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. THE GLIDER STRUCK THE GROUND, CRUSHING THE NOSE AND OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING. THE GLIDER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65932](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65932-1992-01-13), registration cancelled 1992-01-13, S/N 572 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 126E
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (registry code 8050124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 572
- Airframe hours: 2373
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nevada Soaring Assoc., Inc.
- Registered owner: Nevada Soaring Assoc., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 1991, 62 hours before
- Departed: NV23, SPARKS, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 9,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 8,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 25 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 19910803031589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910803031589A), Aug 3, 1991: Scwzer SGS126E, Sutcliffe, NV, Substantial damage. Ran out of thermals. Tried to land on road. Overshot and stalled attempting realign with road.

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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