Schweizer SGS-1-35C accident near Paint Bank, Virginia, November 12, 1989
On November 12, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-35C (glider), registered N2880H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paint Bank, Virginia. 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH LED TO AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AFTER ENCOUNTERING DETERIORATING LIFT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paint Bank, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-35C · all SGS-1-35Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2880H · registry record · serial 70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENROUTE THE PLT ELECTED TO RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE ARPT DUE TO DETERIORATING LIFT CONDITIONS. CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND THE PLT DIVERTED TO A CLOSER ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT TWO MOUNTAIN RIDGES HAD TO BE CROSSED TO REACH THE ARPT. HE WAS ABLE TO CROSS ONE RIDGE; HOWEVER, INSUFFICIENT LIFT REMAINED TO CLEAR THE SECOND RIDGE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE AND THE GLIDER WAS LANDED IN TREES.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 412 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1989; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 08VA Buchanan VA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Tazwell VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.