Schweizer SGS-1-26 accident near Prescott, Arizona, June 4, 2000
On June 4, 2000 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-26 (glider), registered N3814A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Coyote Run Gliderport 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
Diminished control during the landing phase of operation due to a partial blockage of the elevator controls by a microphone that became lodged in the control stick well.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2000 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Coyote Run Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-26 · all SGS-1-26s on the register
- Registration
- N3814A · registry record · serial 94
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After making a radio call from a handheld microphone on base to final, the pilot realized that she was a little high. She set the microphone down and placed both hands on the control stick in an effort to execute a sideslip to lose altitude. While attempting to flare and clear the airport boundary fence, the glider did not respond to back pressure applied to the control stick. The microphone was later found lodged in the control stick well.
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: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,081 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 575 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZ86 at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 017° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 196°F (91°C), dew point 97°F (36°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PRC, 7 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.