Schweizer T-26E accident near Fremont, California, April 22, 1989
On April 22, 1989 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Schweizer T-26E (glider), registered N1134S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fremont, California (Fremont Sky Sailing Arpt 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID OBSTACLES DURING AN INADEQUATELY PLANNED APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1989 · about 7:45 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Fremont, California · Fremont Sky Sailing Arpt · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer T-26E
- Registration
- N1134S · registry record · serial 514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO EXECUTE AN APPROACH THAT WAS LOW AND IN AN AREA OF POWER LINES. WHILE IN A NOSE HIGH RIGHT TURN TO AVOID THE POWER LINES IT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND COLLIDE WITH TERRAIN.
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: 45 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 575 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from SJC, 8 miles away
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1134S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schweizer 1,186 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,094 in the last ten years
- California 28,286 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX89LA167.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.