Schweizer 1-23 accident near Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1989
On July 23, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Schweizer 1-23 (glider), registered N91867, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eighty Four, Pennsylvania (Bandel airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR HANDLING OF THE GLIDER DURIG LANDING. THE PILOT OVER CORRECTED AND CAUSED THE NOSE TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY SURFACE. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, RESULTING IN A GROUNDLOOP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eighty Four, Pennsylvania · Bandel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 1-23
- Registration
- N91867 · no longer on the register · serial 1-23
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT MADE A POOR LANDING PATTERN WITH EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED. ON TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT SAID THAT HE OVER-CONTROLLED THE GLIDER ALLOWING THE NOSE TO STRIKE THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND AT THIS TIME HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE GLIDER BOUNCED AND GROUNDLOOPED.
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: 165 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 22D Eighty-Four PA at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,095 ft by 98 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.