Schweizer 1-26D accident near Blairstown, New Jersey, September 7, 1992
On September 7, 1992 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Schweizer 1-26D (glider), registered N7734S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blairstown, New Jersey (Blairstown 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE SPOILERS WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING OVERRUN. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1992 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Blairstown, New Jersey · Blairstown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 1-26D
- Registration
- N7734S · registry record · serial 434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND, THE PILOT COULD NOT GET THE SPOILERS TO DEPLOY ON THE GLIDER. HE STATED HE RAN OUT OF RUNWAY AND COULD NOT LAND OFF THE RUNWAY DUE TO OBSTACLES. THE PILOT SAID HE TRIED TO TURN THE GLIDER AT A LOW ALTITUDE TO REVERSE DIRECTION AND LAND ON THE RUNWAY. DURING THE MANEUVER THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER CARTWHEELED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW, NOR WAS TOLD, ABOUT A BUTTON ON THE CONTROL WHEEL THAT NEEDED TO BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO ALLOW SPILER DEPLOYMENT. HE STATED ON THE PILOT ACCIDENT REPORT FORM, 'UNDERSTANDING COCKPIT CONTROLS, ESPECIALLY DIFFERENCES FROM MODEL TO MODEL' MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED THIS ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12,477 hours in all; 1,681 in this make and model; 12,477 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1992; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 780 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,990 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.