Schweizer SGS-1-35C accident near Hood River, Oregon, January 5, 1992
On January 5, 1992 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS-1-35C (glider), registered N2818H, was destroyed in an accident near Hood River, Oregon. It was a personal 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
POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION ALONG WITH THE PILOT'S RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CLOUDS AND VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1992 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hood River, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS-1-35C · all SGS-1-35Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2818H · no longer on the register · serial 78
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TOW TO ALTITUDE, THE CANOPY FOGGED OVER. THE PILOT'S VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED AND AFTER RELEASING AT 2,800 FEET, THE PILOT TRIED TO CLEAR THE CANOPY; HOWEVER, THE FLIGHT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC. THE PILOT EJECTED THE CANOPY AND SPOTTED A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH STUMPS AND CUT TREES.
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: 212 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,600 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:48 pm from DLS, 15 miles away
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.