Schweizer SGS 1-26B N696U

Summary

On 15 August 2002 at about 21:45 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26B registered N696U was involved in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 2002 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hobbs, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.6875, -103.2169

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-26B

Registration

N696U

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hobbs → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA237

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions which resulted in the loss of thermal lift. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that approximately 5 to 10 miles east of the airport, the glider was "thermaling" at 8,000 feet msl. The glider encountered a downdraft with a rainshower, and subsequently, quickly lost altitude. Unable to locate a thermal to gain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. While attempting to land in the field, the glider struck a wire fence. The glider came to rest upright and tangled in the fence wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.