Schweizer 1-26E accident near Waynesboro, Virginia, June 23, 1992
On June 23, 1992 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Schweizer 1-26E (glider), registered N2781H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waynesboro, Virginia (Waynesboro 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE ON APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE, AN IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH, AND THE GUSTY WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1992 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesboro, Virginia · Waynesboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 1-26E
- Registration
- N2781H · registry record · serial 671
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PILOT WAS RETURNING FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 23. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS AS BEING FROM 260 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. PRIOR TO THE LANDING AREA, THE TERRAIN SLOPES DOWNWARD. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE GLIDER ON FINAL AND DESCRIBED IT AS, 'VERY LOW AND SLOW.' THE FAA REPORTED THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO STRETCH HIS GLIDE AND STALLED THE GLIDER. THE GLIDER DESCENDED INTO RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S TOTAL TIME WAS 45 HOURS WITH 21 HOURS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
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: 45 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1900
- Maximum gross weight: 635 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Augusta Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,009 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N2781H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.