# Accident 19920926038809A: Schler ASW20, Middletown, CA, September 26, 1992

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 1992, 13:31 local time
- Place: Middletown, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7794° N, 122.5794° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7794&lon=-122.5794&mi=10
- Aircraft: N789E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N789E-1997-09-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW-20 (registry code 3801506, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASW20
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 241 total, 66 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX92LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA400) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920926038809A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NO ELEVATOR CONTROL ON TAKEOFF PRIOR TOW RELEASE. DIVED INTO GROUND. PILOT FAILED TO CONNECT ELEVATOR CONTROL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX92LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA400), Sep 26, 1992: Schleicher ASW-20 (N789E), Middletown, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CONNECT THE ELEVATOR CONTROL DURING ASSEMBLY AND FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT CHECK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS DISTRACTION BY PERFORMING…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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