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Accidents · NTSB SEA94LA148 · Final report

Schweizer SGS 1-26D accident near North Plains, Oregon, June 8, 1994

On June 8, 1994 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26D (glider), registered N7751S, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Plains, Oregon (North Plains Glider Port airport). 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

PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT WAS NOT OBTAINED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CANOPY NOT SECURED, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 8, 1994 · about 11:06 pm local time · cases in 1994
Place
North Plains, Oregon · North Plains Glider Port · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Schweizer SGS 1-26D · all SGS 1-26Ds on the register
Registration
N7751S · registry record · serial 451
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE CANOPY POPPED OPEN DURING THE CLIMB OUT. THE PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE AT 500 FEET AGL AND HELD THE CANOPY CLOSED FOR THE RETURN LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULDN'T SEE WHEN HE LET GO OF THE CANOPY TO APPLY THE SPOILERS AND BRAKES. THE GLIDER LANDED LONG AND COLLIDED WITH A SMALL STRUCTURE BEFORE COMING TO A REST.

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: 138 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: None
  • Seat: ctr

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection
  • Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 2,500 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA94LA148.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.