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Accidents · NTSB FTW88DRG09 · Final report

Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS accident near Briggs, Texas, September 10, 1988

On September 10, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (glider), registered N8083, was substantially damaged in an accident near Briggs, Texas (Faultless Flyer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED AS HE MANEUVERED TO RE-ALIGN THE GLIDER DURING FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. THIS RESULTED IN 45-60 DEGREE BANK ANGLE AT VERY LOW ALTITUDES, WHICH CULMINATED IN THE LESS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE FENCE.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 10, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 1988
Place
Briggs, Texas · Faultless Flyer · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was seriously injured.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS STANDARD C · all STANDARD CIRRUSs on the register
Registration
N8083 · registry record · serial 153
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

A WITNESS RPRTD THE GLIDER WAS LOW & SLOW AS IT WAS APPROACHING TO LAND. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT MANEUVERED THE GLIDER INTO A STEEP BANK TO ALIGN IT WITH THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CONTACTED THE TOP WIRE OF A FENCE NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY & CRASHED.

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: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
  • Flight time: 158 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 807 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1988
  • Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 16

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW88DRG09.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.