Schweizer SGS 1-35C accident near Jamul, California, August 14, 1983
On August 14, 1983 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-35C (glider), registered N2941H, was destroyed in an accident near Jamul, California (Nichols Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- August 14, 1983 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Jamul, California · Nichols Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-35C · all SGS 1-35Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2941H · no longer on the register · serial 91
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, AFTER WAITING ALMOST 2 HRS, THE PLT DECIDED HE WOULD FLY THE SAILPLANE, EITHER FOR 1 HR OR UNTIL THE OWNER ARRIVED, WHEN THE OWNER ARRIVED, HE OBSERVED THE SAILPLANE FLYING BACK & FORTH ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF RIDGE AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF A RIDGE THAT SLOPED DOWNWARD TO THE NORTH AT ABOUT A 30 DEG ANGLE. ATHOUGH THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES, THE OWNER SAW THE SAILPLANE DISAPPEAR BEHIND A RIDGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SIDE. DURING IMPACT, THE SAILPLANE STRUCK A TREE, APRX 12 FT TALL, & BROKE IT IN HALF. IT CAME TO REST ON TREES & BRUSH WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE NOSE & COCKPIT AREAS. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE SAILPLANE WAS FOUND. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED IN AN AREA KNOWN TO HAVE PERIODS OF HIGH SINK. THE PLT WAS A NAVAL AVIATOR WITH ONLY ABOUT 3.4 HRS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 925 hours in all; 3 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1982; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jamul CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Observation at 9:45 pm from SDM, 5 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.