Schweizer SGS1-36 accident near Hemet, California, April 30, 1985
On April 30, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS1-36 (glider), registered N36156, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hemet, California (Hemet 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
- April 30, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hemet, California · Hemet
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS1-36 · all SGS1-36s on the register
- Registration
- N36156 · registry record · serial 5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER A COCKPIT CHECK-OUT IN THE SCHWEIZER SGC 1-36. THE PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE SPOILERS WERE DEPLOYED AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SPOILER HANDLE IN THIS MODEL OPERATES DIFFERENTLY FROM ANY OTHER GLIDER. HE COMMENTED THAT A GUSTY WIND SHEAR CONDITION EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 1, 1985; 28 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sailplane Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: HMT at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.