Schweizer SGS 1-34 accident near Mulberry, Florida, October 22, 1994
On October 22, 1994 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 (glider), registered N7679, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mulberry, Florida (South Lakeland airport). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION RESULTING IN A LEAKING BRAKE GOING UNDETECTED. THIS RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE DUE TO LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND COLLISION WITH A SIGN AND A DITCH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT BE STOPPED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1994 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Mulberry, Florida · South Lakeland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34 · all SGS 1-34s on the register
- Registration
- N7679 · no longer on the register · serial 59
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT'S WHEEL BRAKE FAILED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A SIGN AND COMING TO REST IN A DITCH. THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. THE PILOT DID NOT CHECK THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEVEL BEFORE FLIGHT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1994; 143 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,025 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:25 pm, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N7679 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.