Schweizer 1-36 accident near Colo Springs, Colorado, January 6, 1983
On January 6, 1983 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Schweizer 1-36 (glider), registered N36166, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colo Springs, Colorado. 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 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
- January 6, 1983 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Colo Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 1-36 I-36
- Registration
- N36166 · registry record · serial 10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A PULLUP FROM A DIVE AT ALTITUDE. THE WING WAS RIPPLED AND BECKLED AND DAMAGED AT THE ATTACH POINTS. THE DIHEDRIAL HAD CHANGED FROM 6 DEGREES TO 8.5 DEGREES. THERE WAS ALSO UNMEASURED CHANGE IN THE SWEEPBACK. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PILOT ACHIEVED THE AIRSPEED ESTIMATED FROM THE BAROGRAPH AT 146 MPH BY RETRACTING THE SPEED BRAKES DURING THE DIVE. MAXIMUM AIRSPEED IS 136 MPH FOR THIS GLIDER. THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL THE PULLUP EXCEPT FOR NEGATIVE G'S AT THE TOP. POSITIVE G FORCES WERE ESTIMATED AT 10.5 TO 11. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL LANDING AFTER THE FLIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 219 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 328 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1982; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.