NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA17CA196
Registry · N17933
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26E
Year of manufacture
1973 · 44 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19730719
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A13D79
Registrant of record
JERSEY RIDGE SOARING LLC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
Factual narrative
The glider pilot reported that while returning to his home airport, he was unable to find enough lift, and did not have enough altitude to cross a section of land called "The Gap". After he altered course to land at an alternate airport he attempted to ridge soar, but was again unable to encounter enough lift. He "hugged the ridge top" for as long as he could and then proceeded down a valley in anticipation of landing in a field. Subsequently, the glider collided with trees prior to the field and came to rest suspended in the trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to both wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The glider pilot reported that, while returning to his home airport, he was unable to find enough lift and did not have enough altitude to cross a section of land called "The Gap." After he altered course to land at an alternate airport, he attempted to ridge soar but again did not encounter enough lift. He "hugged the ridge top" for as long as he could and then proceeded down a valley in anticipation of landing in a field. Subsequently, the glider collided with trees preceding the field and came to rest suspended in the trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to both wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Thermal lifting-Effect on operation - C
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Attain/maintain not possible - C
- — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2017_GAA17CA196.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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