Schweizer SGS 1 26B accident near Mocksville, North Carolina, May 30, 2015
On May 30, 2015 at about 6:20 pm local time, a 1963 Schweizer SGS 1 26B (glider), registered N8683R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mocksville, North Carolina (Bahnson airport). 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
The glider pilot over-ran the runway and impacted a structure after encountering a strong updraft on short final.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2015 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mocksville, North Carolina · Bahnson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1 26B B, built 1963 · all SGS 1 26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8683R · registry record · serial 214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, was on his first solo in this make and model glider, and reported that while on final approach, with the spoilers extended, the glider encountered a "significant strong thermal updraft", which caused him to float past his intended landing spot. Subsequently the glider over-ran the runway and impacted a structure, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Updraft › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 0.5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 17, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,357.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 43NC Mocksville NC at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 43NC Mocksville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KINT, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.