Schweizer SGS-1-35 accident near Marion, North Carolina, March 5, 1982
On March 5, 1982 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-35 (glider), registered N2835H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, North Carolina (Shiftlet airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1982 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, North Carolina · Shiftlet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-35 · all SGS-1-35s on the register
- Registration
- N2835H · no longer on the register · serial 55
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND THROUGH BASE TO FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT NOTED A STRONG TAILWIND. HE REPORTED THAT THE TAILWIND BLEW THE GLIDER ACROSS THE RUNWAY AND OVER THE BOUNDARY FENCE. HE ANGLED BACK TO CLEAR THE FENCE AND LAND ON THE RUNWAY WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR AND LOST ABOUT 20 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED. AT THE SAME TIME, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY TREES ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY, THE GLIDER WAS TURNED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AND RANGED FROM CALM TO GUSTY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,877 hours in all; 543 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 1,754 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 538 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 930 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A9 Marion NC at 12:10 pm
- Destination: 9A9 Marion NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,340 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.