NTSB CAROL · Event
Event MIA89LA206
Registry · N9944J
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26C
Year of manufacture
1966 · 23 years old at event
Engine
NONE NONE
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19660531
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ADE46C
Registrant of record
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SOARING CLUB
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISON BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: FAILURE OF THE TOW VEHICLE DRIVER TO USE/MAINTAIN THE PROPER SPEED, THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND HIGH VEGETATION (UNCUT HAY).
Factual narrative
AN AUTO TOW WAS BEING USED TO LAUNCH THE GLIDER. AS THE GLIDER REACHED AN ALT OF ABOUT 200 TO 250 FT, THE AUTO DRIVER REALIZED HE WAS EXCEEDING THE PLANNED SPEED, SO HE SLOWED THE AUTO BY 5 TO 10 MPH. AT THAT TIME, THE TOW LINE SLACKENED,THEN RELEASED AUTOMATICALLY. THE STUDENT PLT DECIDED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO AN UNCUT HAY FIELD. DRG THE LANDING, THE HAY CAUGHT THE RIGHT WING & THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED, DAMAGING THE WING & FUSELAGE. THE RECOGNIZED SOARING PUBLICATIONS ADVISED THAT 180 DEG TURNS BACK TO THE RWY FOR DOWNWIND LNDGS WERE SAFE & PERMISSIBLE AT ALTITUDES OF 200 FT OR MORE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1989_MIA89LA206.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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