Cirrus No. 101, N7988

Currently Owned by:

N/A

STATUS: Destroyed August 12, 1992

LOCATION: N/A

The original bill of sale, August 18, 1970, was from Schempp-Hirth to "Motorless Flight Enterprises" (a partnership of William S. Foley and the North Moosup Company) of Glastonbury, CT. (Motorless Flight Enterprises imported several Cirruses in the 1969-70 timeframe.)

It was immediately (October 23, 1970) purchased by Robert W. and Christine Brower of Kansas City, MO for $8060. They apparently borrowed $16,950 on November 4 of that year, using the glider, a 68 Ford Torino and a 1970 Cadillac convertible as collateral. They installed an oxygen system in it on November 27, 1970.

They kept it for about two years before selling it, on January 24, 1982, to Linda and Donald Draper of Stateline, NV. The Drapers also mortgaged the airplane, on a note for $12,000 which included the Cirrus and a 2-33 (N2052T). The Drapers sold it to David Sheldon of Bishop, CA on October 9, 1985.

There is anecdotal evidence that the glider stayed in storage for some years before Sheldon was reported killed in a crash on August 12, 1992 at Bishop, CA. Sheldon, who was a retired physician, flew No. 101 maybe ten hours according to reports of other pilots who flew with him at Bishop. His accident was reported by the NTSB (Identification: LAX92LA346 For details, refer to NTSB microfiche number 47844A):

"The certificated glider pilot, the sole occupant, departed for a local area flight with lift conditions described as weak to moderate. The wreckage was located about 2 hours after departure in an area of rugged mountainous terrain. The left wing of the glider struck a rocky ridge and came to rest about 300 feet below the ridge line. Other glider pilots reported that the accident pilot [sic] had a proclivity to fly over mountainous areas at low altitudes. A toxicological examination disclosed the presence of a cardiac antiarrhythmic drug. The quantity of drug found is considered to be at therapeutic levels. According to a CAMI [sic] physician, the drug, in view of the pilot's previous medical history, did not by itself, present a disqualifying condition that would have been expected to adversely affect the pilot's ability to pilot a glider. Probable cause: the pilot's poor inflight decision to fly over mountainous terrain at an inadequate altitude."

John Reilly of Bishop, CA was flying in his PIK about 5000' feet above Dr. Sheldon when he crashed, and reported it to Bishop. He also hauled the wreckage to the dump two years later, except for a wing, which is damaged beyond repair (almost broken in two). He plans to use it for a video prop.

John reports that it’s possible the glider spun; it could have just recovered from a stall when it hit the ground, but the evidence does not support a conclusion. He could see where the wing tip first hit the ground by tracks; it scraped the ground for 6 feet and then became airborne again. He almost pulled it off, but his wing hit at mid section on rock on cliff edge, and that put him cartwheeling down a very steep hillside for 500 feet. Curiously, Sheldon refused to fly with seat belts on his last flight.