Schweizer SGS 126E accident near Sutcliffe, Nevada, August 4, 1991
On August 4, 1991, a Schweizer SGS 126E (glider), registered N65932, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sutcliffe, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL OF THE GLIDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1991
- Place
- Sutcliffe, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 126E
- Registration
- N65932 · registry record · serial 572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS PARTICIPATING IN A GLIDER COMPETITION WHEN THE LOSS OF THERMAL LIFT NECESSITATED AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE PILOT OVERSHOT HIS INTENDED LANDING POINT ON A ROAD AND BEGAN A MANEUVERING TURN TO AGAIN LINE UP ON THE ROAD. DURING THE TURN, THE PILOT STALLED THE GLIDER ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, DESCENDING IN ABOUT A 60 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND ROTATING CLOCKWISE ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS. THE GLIDER STRUCK THE GROUND, CRUSHING THE NOSE AND OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING. THE GLIDER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.
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: single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,373 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1991; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nevada Soaring Assoc., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NV23 Sparks NV at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from RNO, 25 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX91LA346.