Glaser-Dirks DG-600 accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico, November 26, 1994
On November 26, 1994 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Glaser-Dirks DG-600 (glider), registered N7020P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico. 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
THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1994 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Alamogordo, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glaser-Dirks DG-600
- Registration
- N7020P · registry record · serial 6-6
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SAILPLANE STALLED AFTER THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REPOSITION TO A LOWER RIDGE FOR BETTER LIFTING CONDITIONS. THE SAILPLANE RECOVERED IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE, BUT ONE WING TIP STRUCK A TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE TREES UNTIL IMPACT WITH 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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 11,222 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 460 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1994; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from HMN
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.
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.