# NTSB SEA81FA025: Schweizer SGS126, N9866E, Arlington, WA, March 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 21, 1981
- Place: Arlington, WA · ARLINGTON, WA
- Location: 48.1704° N, 122.1446° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Arlington, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1704&lon=-122.1446&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126931
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0562  81/3/21    ARLINGTON,WA        SCHWEIZER SGS126    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 67,
        TIME - 1135                    N9866E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  11370 TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ARLINGTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ARLINGTON,WA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS                                            IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BUCKLED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - OPERATIONAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: DEFICIENCY,COMPANY MAINTAINED EQPMT,SERVICES,REGULATION
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT: GLIDER LAUNCH/TOW EQUIPMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE-WEAR/PLAY
        REMARKS- GLIDER PILOT OUT OF POSITION.SUDDEN JERK FAILED RT WG.TOW ROPE DID NOT BREAK,OVER MAX STRENGTH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9866E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9866E-2014-12-01), registration cancelled 2014-12-01, S/N 312, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS126
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26c) (registry code 8050120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Arlington

## 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 19810321011159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810321011159A), Mar 21, 1981: Scwzer SGS126C, Arlington, WA, Destroyed. Glider became out of normal tow position. Rope possibly contacted glider's wing causing it to fail. Glider spun in.

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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