# NTSB WPR12CA072: Schweizer SGS 1-26B, N8641R, Murrieta, CA, December 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 28, 2011, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Murrieta, CA - Coordinates: 33.582778, -117.312774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5828&lon=-117.3128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82590 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82590/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82590 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA072 ## Probable cause The glider's encounter with insufficient atmospheric lift to maintain soaring flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=8050118), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8050118), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8050118), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-26B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8050118), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a solo instructional glider flight, the student pilot released from the tow airplane at a planned altitude of 4,250 feet mean sea level. Upon the release, the student pilot was not able to locate any up-currents, and the sink rates the glider encountered varied between 200 to 600 feet per minute. The pilot stated that there was insufficient lift to clear the ridge safely and glide back to the airport, so he selected two open fields for a possible off-field landing. The pilot stated that, on final approach to the field, he observed signs between the glider’s current position and the intended landing site that he had not seen during his fly-by inspection. He maneuvered around the obstructions and decided to land on a road. The glider landed on the road, and the right wing collided with a previously unseen mailbox post, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. ## Factual narrative During a solo instructional glider flight, the student pilot released from the tow airplane at a planned altitude of 4,250 feet mean sea level (msl). Upon the release, the pilot was not able to locate any up-currents, and the sink rates the glider encountered varied between 200 to 600 feet per minute. The pilot stated that his plan was to try and gain altitude, cross a ridge, and drop back down into the valley and glide back to the airport. However, there was insufficient lift to clear the ridge safely, so he selected two open fields for a possible off-field landing. The pilot stated that on final approach to the field, he observed some signs between the glider’s current position and the intended landing site that he had not seen during his fly-by inspection. He maneuvered around the obstructions and decided to land on a road, which was his second landing site. The glider landed on the road, and the right wing collided with a previously unseen mailbox post, which caused substantial damage to the wing. The glider spun in a clockwise direction and hit trash cans before coming to rest in a shallow ditch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8641R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8641R), registered now, S/N 184, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26B - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26b) (registry code 8050118) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 184 - Airframe hours: 2250 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Lake Elsinore Soaring Club - Registered owner: Lake Elsinore Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2011 - Departed: CA89, Lake Elsinore, CA - Destination: CA89, Lake Elsinore, CA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: center; flight hours: 165 total, 3 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KRIV, 18 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 20111228029819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111228029819A), Dec 28, 2011: Schweizer SGS 1-26B, Lake Elsinore, CA, Substantial damage. N8641R, a Schweizer sgs 1-26B glider, departed Skylark Airport, Lake Elsinore, and encountered a down draft 4 to 5 miles southeast of the field. Pilot landed… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82590. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.