Schweizer SGS 1-26E accident near Williston, Florida, June 9, 1984
On June 9, 1984 at about 6:28 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E (glider), registered N33916, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williston, Florida (Wiliston airport). 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
- June 9, 1984 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Williston, Florida · Wiliston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-26E · all SGS 1-26Es on the register
- Registration
- N33916 · no longer on the register · serial 639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT BASE LEG FOR RWY 4. THE PLT CONTINUED TO FLY THE BASE LEG HEADING & FLEW THRU THE FINAL APCH LEG. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A RIGHT BANK, & AFTER 180 DEG OF TURN, IT STALLED & WENT INTO A RIGHT SPIN AT AN ESTIMATED 600 TO 800 FEET. NO VISIBLE ATTEMPTS TO RECOVERED WERE NOTED. THE GLIDER CRASHED IN A FIELD ALONG THE FINAL APCH COURSE TO RWY 4. NO PREIMPACT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OR FLT CONTROL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 66 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 41 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 413 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1984; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from GNV, 23 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.
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.