Schweizer SGS 1-23G accident near Warrenton, Virginia, July 30, 1983
On July 30, 1983 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-23G (glider), registered N3843A, was destroyed in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 30, 1983 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-23G · all SGS 1-23Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3843A · no longer on the register · serial 42
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 4,500 FT THE GLIDER WAS OVSERVED TO PULL UP INTO A STALL & ENTER A SPIN WHICH CONTINUED FOR THREE TURNS. THE GLIDER CAME OUT OF THE SPIN INTO A LEFT SPIRAL & APPEARED TO BE TRAVELING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. THE NOSE THEN 'TUCKED UNDER' UNTIL THE GLIDER WAS INVERTED. WHAT APPEARED TO BE A TWO TO THREE TURN INVERTED SPIN FOLLOWED. THE GLIDER RECOVERED FROM THE SPIN & FLEW INVERTED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. IT THEN APPEARED TO ROLL UPRIGHT BRIEFLY, BUT RETURNED TO THE INVERTED POSITION BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE FLIGHT MANUAL WHICH ACCOMPANIED THIS ACFT ADVISES 'THE 1-23H OR 1-23H-15 IS AEROBATIC, BUT EXTREME CAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO EXCEED PLACARD SPEED. PILOTS WITH NO AEROBATIC EXPERIENCE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT INVERTED OR DIFFICULT MANEUVERS WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF DUAL IN SUCH.' UNDER THE TOPIC OF SPINS THE MANUAL ALSO STATED 'RECOVERY IS NORMAL. CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DUMP STICK TOO MUCH AS SHIP MAY GO BEYOND VERTICAL.'
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 916 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown OTHER 09 (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from IAD
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.