Schweizer SGS 1-34 accident near Groveland, Florida, August 13, 2010
On August 13, 2010 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 (glider), registered N65916, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Groveland, Florida (Seminole Lake Gliderport 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 attain the proper approach path to the runway, resulting in landing short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2010 · about 3:15 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Groveland, Florida · Seminole Lake Gliderport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34 · all SGS 1-34s on the register
- Registration
- N65916 · no longer on the register · serial 86
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot reported that he was in the traffic pattern adjoining the downwind leg for the runway. He turned onto the base leg at 650 feet above ground level (agl) and then turned onto final approach at 450 feet agl. The glider was high and he could not attain a normal glide slope using the dive brakes. He closed the dive brakes and performed a 360-degree turn in an effort to lose altitude. At mid-field, with the glider about 100 feet agl, he decided to circle right and attempt a landing on a perpendicular runway. The glider was too low and impacted a tree short of the runway. A witness reported that the dive brakes remained full open during the accident sequence. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage reported that the dive brakes were in the deployed, or up, position when he arrived at the accident site.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,510 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,332 as pilot in command; 3,552 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,506 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2010; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Seminole Flying & Soaring INC
The flight
- Departed from: 6FL0 Groveland FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 6FL0 Groveland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from GIF, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 7, 2010. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot and Witness Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Mor - FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1: Glider with Air Brakes Deployed | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N65916: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Schweizer SGS 1 gliders (1-26, 1-34, 1-35, 1-36) 581 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schweizer 1,187 aircraft on the register
- Seminole Lake · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 985 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,705 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA10CA419.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.