Schweizer SGS 1-26D N7796S

Summary

On 13 November 1983 at about 20:20 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26D registered N7796S, operated by S. Calif. Soaring Association, was involved in an accident near Lucerne Valley, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

13 November 1983 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Lucerne Valley, California, United States

Nearest airport

Rabbit Dry Lake

Coordinates

39.1595, -122.7499

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-26D

Registration

N7796S

Category

Glider

Operator

S. Calif. Soaring Association

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX84LA061

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS 1ST SOLO LAUNCH USING AN AUTO TOW & A NOSE HOOK. DURING THE LAUNCH, THE GLIDER BECAME AIRBORNE AT ABOUT 42 MPH. THEREAFTER, THE STUDENT CLIMBED SUCCESSFULLY TO AN ESTIMATED ALT OF APRX 200 FT. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PLT (IP), WHO WAS DRIVING THE LAUNCH VEHICLE, OBSERVED SAND SAILERS AT HIS 10 TO 11 O'CLOCK POSITION. TO AVOID A CONFRONTATION & TO PROTECT THE SAND SAILERS FROM THE TOW LINE BEING DROPPED IN THEIR VICINITY, THE IP ALTERED HIS COURSE ABOUT 30 DEG TO THE RIGHT. THE TOW LINE BECAME SLACK & THE STUDENT THOUGHT THE LAUNCH VEHICLE WAS SLOWING (BUT IT WAS REPORTED ACCELERATING). THE STUDENT RELEASED THE TOW CABLE, THEN TURNED TO LAND ON THE DRY LAKE BED/STRIP. HOWEVER, THE GLIDER STALLED. THE STUDENT SAID THAT HE MADE AN INCOMPLETE RECOVERY PRIOR TO A VERY HARD LANDING & GROUND LOOP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.