Schweizer SGS-1-26A accident near Montague, California, July 1, 1988
On July 1, 1988 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-26A (glider), registered N2726Z, was destroyed in an accident near Montague, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 1, 1988 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-26A · all SGS-1-26As on the register
- Registration
- N2726Z · registry record · serial 245
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE LAST TRANSMISSION BY THE PILOT STATED HE WAS GOING TO SEE WHAT THE GLIDER COULD DO BESIDES STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT. WITNESSES IN THE AREA REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD A LOUD POP AND OBSERVED THE GLIDER, MINUS THE LEFT WING, IN A VERTICAL DESCENT AND COLLIDE WITH THE TERRAIN. THE WING SPAR BROKE TWO FEET FROM THE ROOT. A METALLURGICAL TEST PERFORMED ON THE SPAR REPORTED THAT THE SPAR BROKE IN A POSITIVE (UP) OVERLOAD. POST ACC INVEST REVEALED THE ACFT WAS PLACARDED FOR PLT WT NOT TO EXCEED 166 LBS. THE REC PLT WEIGHED 210 LBS. A SCHWEIZER SERVICE BULLETIN RESTRICTS THIS SAILPLANE FROM AEROBATICS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 734 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1988; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 575 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Montague Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.