Schweizer SGS 1-36 accident near Elmira, New York, August 25, 1984
On August 25, 1984 at about 8:18 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-36 (glider), registered N3622E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmira, New York (Elmira/Corning 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
- August 25, 1984 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Elmira, New York · Elmira/Corning · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-36 · all SGS 1-36s on the register
- Registration
- N3622E · no longer on the register · serial 42
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
VERY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT 150 TO 200 FT THE TOW ROPE FAILED. THE GLIDER INITIATED A STEEP LEFT TURN BACK TO THE ARPT. DURING THE TURN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT TO STALL AND ENTER AN UNCONTROLLED NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT TO GROUND 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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 289 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1984; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 710 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELM Elmira NY
- Destination: ELM Elmira NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,020 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:18 pm from ELM, 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.
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.