Schleicher ASW-24 and Schemp-Hirth Ventus mid-air collision near Edinburg, New York, September 18, 2026
On September 18, 2026 at about 6:26 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schleicher ASW-24 (N94CG) and Schemp-Hirth Ventus (N61XC), were involved in a mid-air collision near Edinburg, New York. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2026 · about 6:26 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Edinburg, New York · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schleicher ASW-24, built 1994 · all ASW-24s on the register
- Registration
- N94CG · registry record · serial 24229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schemp-Hirth Ventus 2B, built 1996
- Registration
- N61XC · registry record · serial 31
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schleicher ASW-24 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 18, 2026, about 1426 eastern daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2B glider, N61XC, and a Schleicher ASW-24 glider, N94CG, collided in flight near Edinburg, New York. The pilot of the Schempp-Hirth was fatally injured and the glider was destroyed. The pilot of the Schleicher was not injured and the glider was substantially damaged. The gliders were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. The pilot of the Schleicher glider stated that there were four gliders flying in a thermal. They were flying at an altitude of about 5,000 ft mean sea level when the Schempp-Hirth glider descended from above and its left wing contacted the nose section of his glider. He further stated that he retained controllability of the glider, so he circled and landed at Plateau Sky Ranch Airport (1F2), Edinburg, New York. During the turn to circle the airport, the pilot of the Schleicher glider saw the left wing of the Schempp-Hirth fracture off before the glider fell to the ground. The Schempp-Hirth glider came to rest in a wooded area about 5 miles north of 1F2. The right wing and empennage were located near the impact crater. The glider was fractured into several pieces. The left wing was not located. Flight track data recovered from recording devices onboard both gliders were downloaded for further examination.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Schemp-Hirth Ventus preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 18, 2026, about 1426 eastern daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2B glider, N61XC, and a Schleicher ASW-24 glider, N94CG, collided in flight near Edinburg, New York. The pilot of the Schempp-Hirth was fatally injured and the glider was destroyed. The pilot of the Schleicher was not injured and the glider was substantially damaged. The gliders were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. The pilot of the Schleicher glider stated that there were four gliders flying in a thermal. They were flying at an altitude of about 5,000 ft mean sea level when the Schempp-Hirth glider descended from above and its left wing contacted the nose section of his glider. He further stated that he retained controllability of the glider, so he circled and landed at Plateau Sky Ranch Airport (1F2), Edinburg, New York. During the turn to circle the airport, the pilot of the Schleicher glider saw the left wing of the Schempp-Hirth fracture off before the glider fell to the ground. The Schempp-Hirth glider came to rest in a wooded area about 5 miles north of 1F2. The right wing and empennage were located near the impact crater. The glider was fractured into several pieces. The left wing was not located. Flight track data recovered from recording devices onboard both gliders were downloaded for further examination.
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 for the Schleicher ASW-24 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 394 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 6, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 Saratoga Springs NY at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from SCH, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSCH 181854Z 33007KT 10SM SCT050 SCT070 25/12 A3008
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schemp-Hirth Ventus from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,401 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,155 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 Saratoga Springs NY at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N94CG on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schleicher ASW-24 44 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schleicher 506 aircraft on the register
- N61XC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Saratoga County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New York 1,964 since 1982 · 249 in the last ten years
- New York 6,663 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA346.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.