Schweizer SGS-1-26B accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1985
On May 11, 1985 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-26B (glider), registered N2401W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania (New Garden 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 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
- May 11, 1985 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania · New Garden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-26B · all SGS-1-26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2401W · registry record · serial 347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS BEING TOWED FOR TAKEOFF & HAD JUST BECOME AIRBORNE WHEN THE CANOPY CAME OPEN. THE PLT TRIED TO LATCH THE CANOPY, BUT WAS UNABLE, SO HE RELEASED THE GLIDER FROM THE TOW PLANE. WHILE THE PLT CONTINUED TO TRY TO LATCH THE CANOPY, THE GLIDER WENT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY. HE THEN TURNED BACK TOWARD THE RWY, BUT THE GLIDER WAS LOW & ITS LEFT WING CONTACTED THE SIDE OF THE RWY.
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: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 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.