Schweizer SGS 1-34 accident near Elbert, Colorado, April 25, 1992
On April 25, 1992 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 (glider), registered N7642, was destroyed in an accident near Elbert, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GLIDER RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT WING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHWEIZER SGS 1-34.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1992 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34 · all SGS 1-34s on the register
- Registration
- N7642 · no longer on the register · serial 22
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED IN A VERTICAL DIVE APRX 1,500 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. AT 500 FT THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED. THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE GLIDER FOR 15 MINUTES AND 10 MINUTES ON 4/23/92, AN ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT HAD FLOWN THE GLIDER FOR 30 MINUTES.
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: 66 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,874 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Soar Black Forest, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N7642 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.