Schweizer SGS 1-26C accident near Aguanga, California, June 22, 1986
On June 22, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26C (glider), registered N3885A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aguanga, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 22, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Aguanga, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-26C · all SGS 1-26Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3885A · registry record · serial 050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26C GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A WIRE FENCE WHILE THE PLT WAS LANDING ON A CLOSED AIRSTRIP. THE CLOSED STRIP WAS MARKED WITH X'S. SEVERAL FENCES WERE STRETCHED ACROSS THE AIRSTRIP TO CONTROL LIVESTOCK. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING FLT, HE HAD DESCENDED TOO LOW AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND AN AREA WITH SUITABLE LIFT. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE CLOSED AIRSTRIP. HE REPORTED SEEING A WHITE 'X', BUT THOUGHT THE CLOSED STRIP WAS USABLE. ON FINAL APPROACH, HE NOTICED A SERIES OF FENCES CROSSING THE CLOSED STRIP. HE LANDED PAST THE 4TH FENCE, HOPPED THE 5TH & STRUCK THE 6TH FENCE AT APRX 30 MPH.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 709 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 664 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 355 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1986; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 570 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL35 Warner Springs CA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.