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GAA15CA098

2015-05-30 · Mocksville, North Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 43NC

Current FAA registration · N8683R

Make / Model
SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26B
Year of manufacture
1963 · 52 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19630531
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABEF60

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The glider pilot over-ran the runway and impacted a structure after encountering a strong updraft on short final.

Factual narrative

The student pilot, was on his first solo in this make and model glider, and reported that while on final approach, with the spoilers extended, the glider encountered a "significant strong thermal updraft", which caused him to float past his intended landing spot. Subsequently the glider over-ran the runway and impacted a structure, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation The student pilot, was on his first solo in this make and model glider, and reported that while on final approach, with the spoilers extended, the glider encountered a "significant strong thermal updraft", which caused him to float past his intended landing spot. Subsequently the glider over-ran the runway and impacted a structure, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Updraft-Effect on operation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA15CA098.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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