Schweizer I-26E accident near Churchville, Maryland, May 28, 1989
On May 28, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Schweizer I-26E (glider), registered N1124S, was destroyed in an accident near Churchville, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN THE WING CONTACTING THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER CARTWHEELING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Churchville, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer I-26E
- Registration
- N1124S · registry record · serial 512
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SOARING FOR APRX 45 MINUTES THE STUDENT GLIDER PLT REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT OBTAIN ENOUGH LIFT TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. HE SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD TO LAND IN. A WITNESS STATED THAT IT WAS OBVIOUS THE PLT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES PRIOR TO REACHING THE FIELD. HE STATED THAT THE GLIDER WAS DESCENDING TOWARD THE FIELD AND THE RIGHT WING DROPPED SLIGHTLY. THE GLIDER THEN FLIPPED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELED.
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
- Flight time: 1,377 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 575 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OW3 Churchville MD at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.