Schweizer 1-26 accident near Elmira, New York, July 1, 1989
On July 1, 1989 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Schweizer 1-26 (glider), registered N2746H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmira, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1989 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Elmira, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 1-26
- Registration
- N2746H · registry record · serial 666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE SCHWEIZER GLIDER WAS PARTICIPATING IN A GLIDER MEET AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET BACK TO THE AIRPORT HE EXPERIENCED A DOWN DRAFT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE ALTITUDE. ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FIELD FOR AN OFF ARPT LANDING THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HIT A POLE WHICH TURNED THE AIRCRAFT 180 DEGREES BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 253 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 221 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1988; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Elmira NY at 6:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- 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 NYC89LA152.