Schweizer SGS2-32 accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts, June 26, 1994
On June 26, 1994 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS2-32 (glider), registered N1175S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS A DOWNDRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1994 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS2-32 · all SGS2-32s on the register
- Registration
- N1175S · no longer on the register · serial 75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE GLIDING, THERE WAS 'NO LIFT' SO HE DECIDED TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. HE ATTEMPTED TO 'FIND LIFT ALL THE WAY' BACK TO THE AIRPORT, BUT THERE WAS NONE. HE STATED THE AIRPLANE THEN ENCOUNTERED 'EXTREME DOWNDRAFTS OF AT LEAST 1,000 FEET PER MINUTE,' AND HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A GOLF COURSE. AS HE APPROACHED TO LAND ON A FAIRWAY, HE NOTICED GOLFERS ON THE GROUND AHEAD OF HIM. HE BANKED STEEPLY TO AVOID THE GOLFERS, AND THE GLIDER 'SANK RAPIDLY.' THE GLIDER IMPACTED A TREE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,062 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 11,993 as pilot in command; 3,026 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,749 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1994; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PVD, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.