Schweizer SGS 2-32 accident near Fremont, California, August 28, 1986
On August 28, 1986 at about 10:11 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 (glider), registered N9845E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky Sailing airport). 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
- August 28, 1986 · about 10:11 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky Sailing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 2-32 · all SGS 2-32s on the register
- Registration
- N9845E · no longer on the register · serial 21
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER TOW PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THE GLIDER'S SPOILERS IN THE OPEN POSITION SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. HE BROUGHT THE GLIDER TO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE GLIDER PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW AND MADE A SHARP TURN DURING WHICH THE GLIDER PITCHED UP, STALLED AND SPUN TO GROUND IMPACT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Q7 at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,840 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.