Schweizer SGS 1-26C accident near Rockdale, Texas, September 8, 1985
On September 8, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26C (glider), registered N126P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockdale, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rockdale, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-26C · all SGS 1-26Cs on the register
- Registration
- N126P · no longer on the register · serial 284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBSERVED AND CLEARED SERVERAL OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE APPROACH PATH OF HIS INTENDED LANDING AREA. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SEE ONE SMALL AND UNMARKED ELECTRICAL POWER LINE UNTIL TOO LATE TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION. THIS LINE WAS ABOUT 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD IN WHICH HE HAD PLANNED TO LAND. AFTER IMPACT THE GLIDER SMAPPED VIOLENTLY ABOUT 270 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 947 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 757 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 916 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1985; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 35R Hempstead TX at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 35R Hempstead TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 N126P 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.