Schweizer SGS 126B accident near Durango, Colorado, July 15, 1995
On July 15, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 126B (glider), registered N8611R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INACCURATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 126B
- Registration
- N8611R · registry record · serial 137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A STUDENT SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT, THE PILOT COULD NOT FIND AREAS OF LIFT AND MADE A LANDING IN THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIELD. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE GLIDER STRUCK A FENCE.
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: student
- Flight time: 9 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,892 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1995; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 596 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DRO CO at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from DRO, 15 miles away
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.