NTSB Factual Report

On May 3, 1994, at 1520 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1- 34 glider, N1163S, collided with the ground following a loss of control in the traffic pattern at the Hemet, California, airport. The glider was owned and operated by Sailplane Enterprises of Hemet and was rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The glider was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated from the Hemet airport on the day of the accident about 1430 hours.

A ground witness reported observing the aircraft enter the traffic pattern for runway 22 at a slow rate of speed. The glider was observed continuing to slow down as it made a skidding flat turn from down ind to base. During the base to final turn, the witness saw the aircraft enter a two-turn spin and impact the ground nose first.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Riverside, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The inspector reported that he did not find any mechanical discrepancies.

The pilot was issued his private certificate with a glider rating on March 12, 1994.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor in the accident was the pilot's low total flight time.