Schweizer SGS 1-34 accident near Dillingham, Hawaii, July 3, 1982
On July 3, 1982 at about 2:55 am local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 (glider), registered N7657, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillingham, Hawaii (Dillingham airport). 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 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
- July 3, 1982 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Hawaii · Dillingham
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34 · all SGS 1-34s on the register
- Registration
- N7657 · no longer on the register · serial 37
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS ABOUT 5 FEET ABOVE THE RWY DURING A TOW TAKEOFF WITH THE L-19 TOW PLANE ABOUT READY TO LEAVE THE GROUND WHEN THE GLIDER PLT SWITCHED HANDS ON THE CONTROL STICK & APPARENTLY HIT THE COCKPIT CANOPY LATCH CAUSING THE CANOPY TO OPEN VIOLENTLY. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE CANOPY. SINCE HE WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT, HE PULLED THE TOW RELEASE AT ABOUT 10 FEET AGL. THE GLIDER PITCHED VIOLENTLY DOWNWARD TO THE RWY HITTING HARD ON THE NOSE & THEN HARD ON THE TAIL. THE PLT SAID THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS FROZE DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE IN THE TAIL & THE GLIDER BOUNCED ANOTHER 3 OR 4 TIMES OUT OF CONTROL UNITL IT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 205 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 932 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dillingham HI at 4:50 pm
- Destination: Dillingham HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 176°F (80°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.