Schweizer SGS 1 34 accident near Middletown, New York, June 1, 2014
On June 1, 2014 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1970 Schweizer SGS 1 34 (glider), registered N7638, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Middletown, New York (Randall 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 maintain directional control during a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2014 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, New York · Randall 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, built 1970 · all SGS 1 34s on the register
- Registration
- N7638 · registry record · serial 18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, she flew the glider into the landing pattern and checked the airbrakes. She lined the glider up to land on the grass runway, but landed close to its right side where other aircraft were parked. Upon touchdown, the glider bounced. The pilot added left stick and rudder, but the glider veered to the right and hit an airplane parked off side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the glider's right wing. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 7, 2012
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Valley Soaring Club INC
The flight
- Departed from: 06N Middletown NY at 7:55 pm
- Destination: 06N Middletown NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,811 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 16, 2014. 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 Answers to Follow-up Questions | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – Damage to Glider (Courtesy of Pilot) | 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.
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.