Schweizer 1-26E accident near Elbert, Colorado, June 18, 1989
On June 18, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Schweizer 1-26E (glider), registered N65910, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elbert, Colorado (Black Forest 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 IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH PLACED THE AIRCRAFT TOO FAR FROM THE RUNWAY TO COMPLETE A NORMAL LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · Black Forest · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 1-26E
- Registration
- N65910 · no longer on the register · serial 610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAITED TOO LONG TO BEGIN HIS LANDING PATTERN AND FOUND HIMSELF TOO FAR FROM THE AIRPORT. THERE WAS NO OBSTACLE FREE AREA AVAILABLE FOR THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING AND WHEN THE PLT TURNED TO ALIGN WITH THE BEST AREA A WING TIP DRAGGED AND THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 246 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 479 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1988; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Soar Black Forest, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CO26 at 8:15 pm
- Destination: CO26
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,800 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.