Schweizer SGS 1-34 N1163S

Summary

On 3 May 1994 at about 22:20 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-34 registered N1163S, operated by Sailplane Enterprises, was involved in an accident near Hemet, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 May 1994 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Hemet, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hemet-Ryan (HMT)

Coordinates

33.7295, -117.0494

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-34

Registration

N1163S

Category

Glider

Operator

Sailplane Enterprises

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA210

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor in the accident was the pilot's low total flight time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A ground witness observed the aircraft enter the traffic pattern for runway 22 at a slow rate of speed. The glider continued to slow down as it made a skidding flat turn from downwind to base. During the base to final turn, the witness saw the aircraft enter a two-turn spin and impact the ground nose first. An FAA airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and reported that he did not find any mechanical discrepancies. The pilot was issued his private certificate with a glider rating on March 12, 1994.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.