# Accident 19970729023569A: Schler ASW20, Briggs, TX, July 29, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 1997, 13:30 local time
- Place: Briggs, TX
- Airport: Flf Gliderport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.9402° N, 97.9307° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9402&lon=-97.9307&mi=10
- Aircraft: N37VV, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37VV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW-20 (registry code 3801506, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASW20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,365 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 53 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA288) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970729023569A

## Narrative

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

FAILED TIMELY RELEASE ON GLIDER TOW DUE LACK OF SPEED. WING HIT TALL GRASS ON RWY EDGE. GLIDER GROUND LOOPED. (-23) DURING AUTO TOW, PILOT IN COMMAND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. STRUCK RIGHT WING TIP ON GROUND. AIRCRAFT PIVOTED ON C.G. HOOK, STRUCK GROUND TAIL FIRST, ROTATED VERTICALLY, IMPACTING GROUND INVERTED. SAFETY LINE IN TOW ROPE DID NOT BREAK.

## 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 FTW97LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA288), Jul 29, 1997: Schleicher ASW-20 (N37VV), Briggs, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was the high vegetation on the side of the runway.

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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