Amateur-built 1-126E accident near Near Tucson, Arizona, April 17, 1982
On April 17, 1982 at about 9:25 pm local time, a amateur-built 1-126E (glider), registered N65937, was destroyed in an accident near Near Tucson, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1982 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Near Tucson, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 1-126E
- Registration
- N65937 · registry record · serial 577
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A TRIANGULAR ROUND-ROBIN COURSE. ON THE THIRD LEG OF THE FLIGHT, HE ENCOUNTER UNFAVORABLE LIFT CONDITIONS AND ELECTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD. HE STARTED A 270 DEG TURN TO FINAL APPROACH. REPORTEDLY, A STRONG, TURBULENT, WIND SHEAR CONDITION WAS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE TURN AND THE GLIDER ENTERED A SPIN. THE PILOT RECOVERED FROM THE SPIN, BUT WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM A DIVE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE IMPACT ANGLE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 30 DEG.
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: 866 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 406 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,704 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ryan Airfield T AZ at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Ryan Airfield T AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.