Schweizer SGS1-34 accident near Inyokern, California, April 7, 1996
On April 7, 1996 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS1-34 (glider), registered N7623, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inyokern, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot misjudged altitude while maneuvering in mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were: the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and the lack of available thermal lift over the rapidly rising rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1996 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Inyokern, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS1-34 · all SGS1-34s on the register
- Registration
- N7623 · no longer on the register · serial 3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot indicated that while soaring over a ridge he turned into a saddle area, and then he turned back toward the ridge. While performing these maneuvers, he encountered a high rate of sink. The pilot reported that he had not allowed sufficient height above the rapidly rising rough terrain to avoid 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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 78 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1995; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IYK at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.