No fatalities

Glider Damaged After Striking Fence Post During Off-Airport Landing

Lake Riverside, CA, United States

On July 14, 2009, a SCHWEIZER SGS 1-26A operated by ACADEMIC SOARING CLUB INC was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Riverside, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of lift which necessitated a forced landing in a field. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1785761257Data APIEditorial standards

A glider sustained structural damage to its left wing spar and fuselage after the pilot executed an off-airport landing in a field due to loss of lift during a cross-country flight.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during a cross-country flight, the glider experienced a loss of lift, prompting an off-airport approach and landing to a field. During the landing flare, the glider's left wing struck a fence post. Subsequently, the glider landed sideways and came to rest upright.

Damage Assessment

Examination of the glider revealed structural damage to the left wing spar and the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the glider's flight control systems.

Pilot Report

According to the pilot, the loss of lift occurred during a cross-country flight, leading to the decision to land in a field. The pilot did not report any issues with the glider's controls or systems before or during the event.

Contributing factors

Attain/maintain not possibleEffect on operation