Schweizer SGS1-34 N7623

Summary

On 7 April 1996 at about 22:45 local time, a Schweizer SGS1-34 registered N7623 was involved in an accident near Inyokern, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 April 1996 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Inyokern, California, United States

Coordinates

35.5492, -117.6690

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS1-34

Registration

N7623

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA160

Nobody was injured.

the pilot misjudged altitude while maneuvering in mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were: the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and the lack of available thermal lift over the rapidly rising rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot indicated that while soaring over a ridge he turned into a saddle area, and then he turned back toward the ridge. While performing these maneuvers, he encountered a high rate of sink. The pilot reported that he had not allowed sufficient height above the rapidly rising rough terrain to avoid impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.