Schweizer I-26D accident near Black Canyon, Arizona, December 3, 1983
On December 3, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schweizer I-26D (glider), registered N7740S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Black Canyon, Arizona. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 3, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Black Canyon, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer I-26D
- Registration
- N7740S · registry record · serial 440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED ON A FERRY X-COUNTRY WHEN THEY OVERFLEW AN UNDERCAST. THE TOW PLANE STARTED DESCENT TO PENETRATE THE CLOUDS EXPECTING THE GLIDER TO MAINTAIN TOW AND CONTACT ON THE 200 FT LINE. THE GLIDER PLT RELEASED AND SPUN DOWN THROUGH THE OVERCAST. HE DID THIS HE SAID TO PREVENT DISORIENTATION. HE BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 800 FT AGL AND WHILE LANDING IN A PASTURE COLLIDED WITH A TREE.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider
- Flight time: 745 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 693 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 640 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Aguila AZ at 7:00 pm
- Destination: AZ05 Pleasant Valley AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 61
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.
Other NTSB records under N7740S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.