Schweizer SGS-1-35 accident near Middletown, New York, June 2, 1985
On June 2, 1985 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-35 (glider), registered N9JK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middletown, New York (Randall airport). 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1985 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, New York · Randall · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-35 · all SGS-1-35s on the register
- Registration
- N9JK · registry record · serial 18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED OFF THE ARPT AFTER THE PLT LOST ALT IN A SPIN. THE PLT WAS AFRAID THAT THE GLIDER WOULD LAND SHORT IN TREES SO HE LANDED ON A HIGHWAY. THE HARD LNDG DAMAGED THE ACFT.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 946 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 135 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1984; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 930 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06N Middletown NY at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 NYC85FHM01.