- Date
- October 17, 1992, 12:02 local (19:02 UTC)
- Place
- Warner Springs, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1176SSchweizer SGS 2-33A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921017042439A
- Case key
- 27846
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate planned approach to the runway, and, his improper use of the flight controls which resulted in an inadvertent accelerated stall/spin.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he encountered a higher than normal sink rate on downwind and ended up lower than normal abeam the end of the runway. Instead of turning base early, the pilot elected to continue on downwind and turn base at the customary location. The pilot realized his problem on base and attempted to tighten the turn to final to make the runway. The pilot reported that he cross controlled the aircraft while making the turn and the glider stalled, then spun to the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1176S
- Reported as
- Schweizer SGS 2-33A
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 226
- Airframe hours
- 8,127
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bret Willat, doing business as Sky Sailing Airport
- Registered owner
- Bret Willat
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 21, 1992 · 31 hours before
- Departed
- CL35
- Destination
- CL35
- Airport
- CL35 · Warner Springs, runway 26, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,208 total · 585 in this make and model · 1,124 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.