Schweizer SGS 1-26B accident near Waialua, Hawaii, December 23, 2004
On December 23, 2004 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26B (glider), registered N2751Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waialua, Hawaii (Dillingham Field). 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 misjudged distance and altitude and failed to attain the proper landing touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2004 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Waialua, Hawaii · Dillingham Field · 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 · all SGS 1-26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2751Z · no longer on the register · serial 262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider landed long, went into the overrun area and ground looped. The pilot was tow launched from runway 8. Winds were light (5-15 knots) and variable. Upon reentering the airport traffic pattern he followed landing traffic for runway 26. On final approach for runway 26 he was at 350 feet and had 1,500 feet of runway remaining below him. He landed long and touched down approximately 30 feet from the departure end of the runway pavement. The glider continued to rollout into the grass overrun. About 20 mph, the left wing touched the ground, and the glider ground looped to the left, damaging the left wing and fuselage.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 575 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHDH Waialua HI at 9:10 pm
- Destination: KHDH Waialua HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 9,007 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HNL, 25 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.