Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the motor glider reported that he taxied to a transient parking area with the wings in a folded position. After parking and unfolding the wings, he began to taxi the glider to the active runway. He reported taxiing to the right of the centerline in order to avoid making contact with the hangars to the left. The pilot then looked ahead and observed three airplanes in the run-up area, and shortly thereafter the glider's left wing tip made contact with a hangar. The glider then spun to the left and collided with the hangar. The left wing sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA093 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 30, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- San Jose, California
- Nearest airport
- Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Stemme Gmbh & Co S-10
- N-number
- N8679
- Category
- Glider
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.