Schweizer SGS-126D accident near Lucerne Valley, California, June 24, 1984
On June 24, 1984 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-126D (glider), registered N7712S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lucerne Valley, California. It was an instructional 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
- June 24, 1984 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lucerne Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-126D
- Registration
- N7712S · registry record · serial 412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT DURING A WINCH LAUNCH WITH A LEFT X-WIND, THE WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING & THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE GLIDER THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT & THE RIGHT WING HIT A WIND SOCK & A VEHICLE. HE REPORTED THAT A WIND-SHIFT HAD JUST OCCURRED & THE X-WIND WAS FROM 180 DEGS AT 10 KTS GUSTING TO 15 KTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,307 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 922 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.