Schweizer SGS 1-26B accident near Ontario, Oregon, April 26, 2025
On April 26, 2025 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1963 Schweizer SGS 1-26B (glider), registered N8657R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Ontario, Oregon (Ontario Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the final approach to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2025 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, Oregon · Ontario Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-26B, built 1963 · all SGS 1-26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8657R · registry record · serial 193
- 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 on a local flight and returning to a local airport to land. While the pilot maneuvered the airplane onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane descended. Subsequently, the right wing dropped and impacted the ground 0.5 miles short of the runway. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported to the insurance company that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Last flight review: April 26, 2025
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Runway 15/3, 5,006 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KONO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KONO 261753Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM FEW041 17/07 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP075 T01720067 10178 20100 58006=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR25LA144.