Schweizer SGS 1 26B accident near Silver Springs, Nevada, July 8, 2015
On July 8, 2015 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1964 Schweizer SGS 1 26B (glider), registered N5839V, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Silver Springs, Nevada (Silver Springs airport). It was an air show or air race 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 decision making in adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an encounter with weather and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2015 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Silver Springs, Nevada · Silver Springs · 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 1964 · all SGS 1 26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5839V · registry record · serial 272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the glider reported diverting from his original destination to an alternate airport due to an approaching thunderstorm from the west that he could see. The pilot chose to stay aloft to see which direction the weather was moving. When the thunderstorm started moving east toward the pilot he decided to land. The pilot reported that while he was on final approach for the runway, he was hit by a gust front, the wind shifted and he was blown to the north side of the runway and landed on a dirt road. During the landing roll the glider impacted a fence post and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A review of local weather data showed nearby convective activity capable of producing significant convective gust fronts. The thunderstorm hazard was forecasted by the National Weather Service prior to the flight, which included a special weather statement for the accident area advising that strong outflow gusts up to 50 miles per hour were possible. The pilot reported receiving a weather forecast the morning of the flight that included the possibility for afternoon thunderstorms. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider 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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,746 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 4,652 as pilot in command; 2,028 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 30, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 479 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MEV Minden NV at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MEV Minden NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 19 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KRNO, 25 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.