Schweizer SGS 1 26B N5839V

Summary

On 8 July 2015 at about 22:00 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1 26B registered N5839V was involved in an accident near Silver Springs, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 July 2015 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Silver Springs, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Silver Springs (SPZ)

Coordinates

39.4050, -119.2519

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1 26B

Registration

N5839V

Category

Glider

Year built

1964

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minden → Minden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA172

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper decision making in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an encounter with weather and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the glider reported diverting from his original destination to an alternate airport due to an approaching thunderstorm from the west that he could see. The pilot chose to stay aloft to see which direction the weather was moving. When the thunderstorm started moving east toward the pilot he decided to land. The pilot reported that while he was on final approach for the runway, he was hit by a gust front, the wind shifted and he was blown to the north side of the runway and landed on a dirt road. During the landing roll the glider impacted a fence post and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A review of local weather data showed nearby convective activity capable of producing significant convective gust fronts. The thunderstorm hazard was forecasted by the National Weather Service prior to the flight, which included a special weather statement for the accident area advising that strong outflow gusts up to 50 miles per hour were possible. The pilot reported receiving a weather forecast the morning of the flight that included the possibility for afternoon thunderstorms. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.