Schweizer SGS 1-34 accident near Lake Elsinore, CA
On September 12, 2009, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 (glider) was involved in an accident near Lake Elsinore, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 12, 2009
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, CA
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-34 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.630°N, 117.302°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090914X73814
Official records · WPR09LA449
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 12, 2009, at 1453 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 glider, N7656, impacted the ground in a nose down attitude following a separation of the tow line at the Skylark Field Airport (CA89), Lake Elsinore, California. The pilot/owner operated the glider under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The glider sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector responded to the site, and interviewed witnesses and the tow airplane pilot. The tow pilot reported that while on the takeoff roll he was manipulating the flight controls due to what he thought was either a crosswind, or the movement of the glider. The tow plane lifted off the ground about 65 miles per hour (mph). He felt what he thought was slack in the tow line and tried to slow down using back pressure. The tow pilot then felt the airplane surge forward as if the tow line had been released. He looked back to confirm that the glider had released and saw it in a sharp right turn and then hit the ground. The tow plane pilot looked back at his altimeter and noted that the tow plane's altitude was between 225 to 250 feet at the time. Ground witnesses reported that from their viewpoint, it appeared that the glider released from the tow airplane, and then veered sharply to the right before it entered into a nose dive prior to impacting the ground. One of
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider after the tow line released during the initial climb.
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Browse: California · Schweizer aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
