Glasflugel KESTREL accident near Little Switzerland, North Carolina, March 5, 2026
On March 5, 2026 at about 6:59 pm local time, a 1969 Glasflugel KESTREL (glider), registered N9919, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Little Switzerland, North Carolina (Strawberry Ridge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of thermal lift during a glider flight, which resulted in a collision with trees during a landing approach to a diversionary airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2026 · about 6:59 pm local time
- Place
- Little Switzerland, North Carolina · Strawberry Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel KESTREL, built 1969 · all KESTRELs on the register
- Registration
- N9919 · registry record · serial 4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the glider had located five possible locations for off airport landings in advance of the glider flying event. On the accident flight, after receiving an aerotow, he maneuvered in the local area and found thermal lift that he used to climb further. After finding additional lift, the pilot flew across a ridge line toward a mountain where he hoped to find additional lift but was unsuccessful. He then turned around attempted to cross back over the ridge line where he knew there were several sites for an off-airport landing. The pilot realized that he would not be able to cross the ridge and then observed a private turf runway that he had not previously seen. During his landing approach the glider struck trees about 200 ft short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to its fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider 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 lift during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 268 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 1, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 880 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 9A9 Marion NC at 6:16 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,174 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KMRN, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMRN 051855Z AUTO 20008KT 160V230 10SM CLR 27/13 A3017 RMK AO2 T02670127=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 17, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Flight Path Traces | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15, and NTSB Evidence Control Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA138.