# Accident 19960528012069A: Schler ASW20, Sparks, NV, May 28, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 1996, 15:15 local time
- Place: Sparks, NV
- Airport: Air Sailing Gliderport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.8691° N, 119.7030° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Air Sailing Gliderport (NV23), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8691&lon=-119.7030&mi=10
- Aircraft: N204Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N204Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW-20 (registry code 3801506, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASW20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 622 total, 254 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX96LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA212) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960528012069A

## Narrative

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

GLIDER ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL ON TAKEOFF, LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT AND CRASHED AT END OF RUNWAY. (.4)THE PILOT SAID HE WAS IN FULL CONTROL OF THE GLIDER DURING THE GROUND ROLL PORTION OF AN AERO TOW, WITH THE WINGS LEVEL AS THE GLIDER ACCELERATED THROUGH AN AIRSPEED BETWEEN 20 AND 30 KNOTS. HE REPORTED THAT 'WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT WING WAS (THEN) SLAMMED TO THE GROUND.'  HE APPLIED FULL OPPOSITE AILERON WHICH HAD NO EFFECT, AND THE GLIDER BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT THEN RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE, BUT DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE GLIDER'S NOSE COLLAPSED, THE CANOPY BROKE, AND THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED. WHEN THE TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED, THE LOCAL WIND WAS BETWEEN 5 AND 10 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 12 KNOTS. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND SPEED WAS BETWEEN 2 AND 7 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED HIS GLIDER WAS 'HIT BY A FREAK HIGH VELOCITY WIND GUST.'

## 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 LAX96LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA212), May 28, 1996: Schleicher ASW-20 (N204Q), Sparks, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff roll, and his failure to maintain control of the glider. The gusty wind condition was a related factor.

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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