Schweizer SGS 1-34 accident near Heber City, Utah, September 23, 1997
On September 23, 1997 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 (glider), registered N7636, was substantially damaged in an accident near Heber City, Utah (Heber Valley Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's improper use of spoilers during the landing sequence. Factors were the embankment and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1997 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Heber City, Utah · Heber Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34 · all SGS 1-34s on the register
- Registration
- N7636 · no longer on the register · serial 16
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he 'entered the pattern on a 45 degree diagonal intercept to the downwind leg of a left-hand pattern approach to runway 21.' He stated that he used the spoilers on downwind, base, and final approach, but 'continued to float down the entire runway due to ground effect.' The glider's center wheel bounced on the runway 2 or 3 times before the aircraft overran the runway and impacted an embankment and fence. The pilot reported that 'it appears that the spoilers were not extended.' He stated 'it is possible that I was pulling on the spoiler engagement lever without depressing the button at the top of the lever which unlocks the spoilers.' The pilot reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that he has 340 hours of flight time in aircraft, of which 25 hours is in gliders. The pilot further reported that he has 53 flights in gliders.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 283 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,327 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1997; 184 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 36U at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 N7636 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.