Schweizer SGS-1-36 accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1991
On November 15, 1991 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-36 (glider), registered N3617C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania (Van Sant 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
THE PILOT ROTATED THE GLIDER PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO ALLOW RECOVERY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN GLIDERS, NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF GLIDER, AND IMPROPER TRIM SETTING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1991 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania · Van Sant · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-36 · all SGS-1-36s on the register
- Registration
- N3617C · no longer on the register · serial 12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER LIFT OFF THE GLIDER BALLOONED ABOVE THE TOW PLANE. THE PILOT USED ELEVATOR CONTROL TO LOWER THE ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN THE GLIDER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE GLIDER CLIMBED ABOVE THE TOW PLANE AGAIN, THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS TYPE OF GLIDER AND HE SAID HE ESTIMATED THE TRIM SETTING BECAUSE HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TRIM SYSTEM ON THIS TYPE OF GLIDER.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 54 hours in all; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 710 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,000 ft by 400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.